AIADMK may split -Governance Now

AIADMK may split

The apex court verdict has not brought an end to the crises the state had been facing since more than two months now.

Shivani Chaturvedi | February 14, 2017 | Chennai

#supreme court #Tamil Nadu #AIADMK #Sasikala #Panneerselvam

The tug-of-war between caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam and Jayalalithaa’s aide Sasikala Natarajan, who was found guilty on Tuesday in a disproportionate assets case by the supreme court, may lead to a vertical split in the AIADMK.

The apex court’s verdict has decided Sasikala’s political fate. She will now have to surrender and serve a four-year jail term. Sasikala is also barred from contesting an election for the next 10 years.

“Truth has won. Sasikala was trying to become chief minister and her intention is defeated,” says Arul, a supporter who assembled at the Greenways residence of O Panneerselvam, who is popularly called OPS.

But, the verdict has not brought an end to the crises that the state had been facing since more than two months now. The verdict has added to the uncertainty and political instability. The government may continue under OPS as caretaker chief minister for a longer time than people expected.

The possibilities

The most distinct possibility now is that the party is going to be almost vertically split. Panneerselvam has already got the support of 10 MLAs. The attrition from Sasikala camp is going to continue following the apex court verdict. The state may go for election in the later part of the year.

While talking to the legislators, one gets the impression that neither side is going to compromise. “After the verdict, we thought Sasikala would compromise but she doesn’t seem to be in that frame of mind,” says an MLA on the condition of anonymity. This may lead to split in the party.

The principal opposition DMK too is likely to press for early elections. For the past three days, the DMK is giving signals that they may not support OPS. If DMK would have extended support to OPS, the government would have survived.

A new name

Highways minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has been elected as legislature party leader. He will stake claim to form the next government. Many feel that Palaniswami lacks leadership acumen.

Social activist Tamilaruvi Manian of Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam says the party should go for OPS and not Palaniswami as the latter would work on the directives of Sasikala only.

Tuesday saw quick political developments, with OPS being removed from primary membership of the party.

Who stands to gain?

Observers compare the current situation with what occurred after MGRs death in 1987. That time there was Janaki faction and Jayalalithaa faction. Janaki faction had the numbers whereas Jayalalithaa had popularity. Similarly, in this situation, Sasikala has got the numbers but OPS has the popularity. In the long run, OPS might be the winner. However, as of now he may not be benefit as the DMK may not vote in his favour. He may well lose his crown.

Comments

Other News

Citizens of the Bay: Why BIMSTEC matters now

The international order is drifting into a dangerous grey zone as the very powers that built today`s multilateral system begin to chip away at it. The United States has increasingly walked away from global rules and forums when they no longer suit its interests, while China has rushed to fill the vacuum on

PM salutes armed forces on one year of Operation Sindoor

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday saluted the courage, precision and resolve of the armed forces on the completion of one year of Operation Sindoor. The PM said that the armed forces had given a fitting response to those who dared to attack innocent Indians at Pahalgam.&

Supreme Court judge strength to go up by four to 37

The strength of the Supreme Court is set to go up from 33 judges to 37 judges, paving the way for a more efficient and speedier justice. The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal for introducing The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament to amend The Sup

BJP set to capture West Bengal

The political map of the country is set to be redrawn with the BJP set to win the West Bengal assembly elections, apart from Assam and the union territory of Puducherry. In Kerala, meanwhile, the Congress-led UDF is set to regain power. The filmstar Vijay-led TVK has emerged as the front-runner in Tamil Na

Beyond LPG: Is PNG ready for India’s next cooking fuel transition?

India, the second-largest importer and consumer of LPG after China, faces growing pressure due to supply constraints. Most of India`s LPG imports transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a focal point of global turmoil. Given that LPG forms the backbone of household kitchens and the restaurant industry, any s

Maharashtra adopts hybrid model for Census 2026 data collection

The government has initiated preparations for Census 2026 in Maharashtra, introducing a hybrid approach that combines optional self-enumeration with comprehensive door-to-door data collection to ensure complete coverage across the state. According to senior officials, the Self-