Not a walk in the park for Sasikala -Governance Now

Not a walk in the park for Sasikala

Sasikala, who doesn’t have a mass following, faces an uphill task of governing Tamil Nadu and also keeping the AIADMK flock together

Shivani Chaturvedi | February 6, 2017 | Chennai

#Sasikala #Jayalalithaa #Tamil Nadu #AIADMK #DMK #Stalin

Sasikala’s elevation as chief minister of Tamil Nadu, exactly 60 days after Jayalalithaa’s death, may bring down the curtains on the power struggle. But, the road ahead is not going to be easy for Sasikala, with fears that the AIADMK may begin to lose the support of its cadres.

AIADMK general secretary Sasikala will take over as the chief minister on February 9. Chinnamma, as Sasikala is addressed in the party, was on Sunday elected as legislature party leader by MLAs during a party meeting. Chief minister O Panneerselvam proposed her name at the meeting of AIADMK legislators, making way for her.

"Chinnamma all set to become the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu," AIADMK said in a tweet.

Looks like it is going to be a smooth transition as far as the administration is concerned.

Read: Tamil Nadu’s new empress

But what does this development mean for AIADMK? Is it the beginning of the end of AIADMK? It is apparent that Sasikala doesn’t have a mass following. Cadres do not accept her. Some fear that the party which has huge cadre strength, may start declining in the days to come leading to party’s rout in the next assembly elections.

Also, cadres from marginalised sections feel that they would be left out. MG Ramachandran, known as MGR, and Jayalalithaa used to give confidence to cadres from marginalised sections by giving them posts like counsellor. But now their hope has faded. They feel that for Sasikala it will be family over party.

Read: Chinnamma is not Amma

Evident by the crowds Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar is drawing in her state-wide tour, party cadre are now split on the ground. Loyalty is divided between Sasikala and Deepa. AIADMK insiders say that Sasikala’s team is trying to talk to Deepa, but Deepa wants to lead her party and has refused to join Sasikala.

Read: Blank will

It is now to be seen how Sasikala manages the situation. Now the future of the AIADMK as the largest party in the state is at stake.

The principal opposition DMK is trying to cash in on the development. Party working president Stalin remarked that whatever is happening in AIADMK is against Jayalalithaa’s will.

Sasikala’s elevation wasn't a surprise. It was just a matter of time. Since Sasikala does not enjoy popular support within the party, it took time for her to consolidate the support. Sasikala doled out party posts to keep the party in her grip.

It is now to be seen what strategy Sasikala deploys to further strengthen her position.

Comments

Other News

A fiction about real-life drama behind Bollywood dramas

Actor and filmmaker Puneet Sikka comes out with a smoke-and-mirrors story decked in acerbic humour and grief. ‘Take No. 2020’ (published by Penguin India) is a story within a story about four migrant actors looking to find their feet in Bollywood till they are presented with a real-life plot tw

Sardar and the idea of ‘unity in diversity’

Vallabhbhai Patel: The Limitations of Anti-Colonial Nationalism and Electoral Politics By Rani Dhavan Shankardass Orient BlackSwan, 968 pages, Rs 2,465

Combating cyber crime

India has faced a significant rise in coordinated threats to airlines, schools, hospitals, five-star hotels this year. These threats were posted on social media or sent through text messages, multiple threat mails that were simultaneously sent to political leaders, authorities and institutions.

`DPI must ensure data privacy, cyber security, citizen-first approach`

With massive development and deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) applied to over 700 government programs for delivering public service, India’s DPI success has improved the lives of ordinary citizens who can now avail of services at their convenience. This has helped save close to

Accountability in action: Rethinking corporate governance for PSUs

Corporate governance has long been recognised as the cornerstone for sustainable economic growth, corporate accountability, and stakeholder trust. For India, which aspires to become a USD 5 trillion economy and Vishwa-Guru (a model nation for the world), strengthening governance is imperative, in governmen

Mahayuti sweeps Maharashtra, JMM wins Jharkhand

The BJP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti has won the Maharashtra assembly elections with a comfortable margin, while the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has emerged clearly victorious in Jharkhand. While the counting was nearing the end Saturday evening, the party position in Maharashtra at 7 pm w