Sasikala바카라s re-entry could upset the AIADMK바카라s well-laid plans
Tamil Nadu바카라s political canvas is strewn with symbols of various forms and sizes바카라statues of past leaders, their samadhis visited mandatorily on their death anniversaries and even their former homes. Sasikala Natarajan바카라s return to Chennai brought two more symbols into focus바카라the AIADMK바카라s flag and the party coloured long shawl worn around her neck.
In defiance of threats and police complaints she rode back to Chennai in a car that sported the AIADMK바카라s flag on the bonnet and the shawl remained in place whenever she stepped out to pray in temples or at AIADMK바카라s founder MGR바카라s residence in a Chennai suburb. The two other symbolic places she had planned to visit바카라the samadhis of MGR and Jayalalalithaa and the Poes Garden residence, now converted into a memorial바카라had been hurriedly closed down by the AIADMK government.
That response by the ruling party only betrayed a collective nervousness about Sasikala바카라s political impact. During her day-long road trip, Sasikala too left no one in doubt about her intentions. 바카라I would ensure the AIADMK cadres remain united so our common enemy (DMK) does not return to power,바카라 she declared. But the AIADMK spurned her overtures outright, even dubbing her as the B-team of the DMK with plans to erode the anti-DMK votes that naturally gravitate towards the AIADMK.
바카라The AIADMK is confident that Sasikala would be able to increase the 6 per cent vote share of the AMMK by just a few notches. The abiding hold of the AIADMK바카라s 바카라two leaves바카라 symbol and the emergence of Palaniswami as a leader in his own right has left Sasikala with little room to manoeuvre. AIADMK leaders are in no mood to surrender their new-found freedom and any patch up with her is unlikely before the assembly elections,바카라 says political commentator Raveenthran Thuraisamy.
Sasikala바카라s supporters argue that the tremendous reception accorded to her, not by just cadres of the AMMK (floated by her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran) but also those from the AIADMK prove that she is viewed as Jayalalithaa바카라s natural political heir. 바카라EPS and OPS must see this reality and make peace with Chinnamma,바카라 says ex-minister Senthamizhan, a die-hard Sasikala fan.
But the ruling dispensation is in no mood to patch up and demonstrated its opposition to Sasikala by ordering attachment of properties of her two relatives convicted along with her in the corruption case. The message it sent out was loud and clear바카라Sasikala바카라s ill-gotten properties identified by the trial court in the corruption case too could be attached any time. By refusing to leave the door even slightly ajar the AIADMK appears to have embarked on a dangerous electoral journey, already saddled by ten years of incumbency and the absence of a charismatic leader like Jayalalithaa.
AIADMK leaders, however, are confident that the strong alliance they would be forging with the BJP, PMK, DMDK and other parties would counter the 바카라Sasi effect바카라. Palaniswami also announced a few populist measures ahead of her release, like writing off co-operative loans to farmers and withdrawing police cases filed during the Jallikattu protests. 바카라Wait and watch, there will be more such announcements before the election dates. And our manifesto will add to the buzz,바카라 says fisheries minister D. Jayakumar.
But neutral observers feel that the impact of Sasikala바카라s influence on her Thevar community, which has been traditionally pro-AIADMK, could determine the results in at least 50 seats in south Tamil Nadu and the Thanjavur delta region. 바카라For this reason alone the AIADMK leadership should have at least started negotiations with AMMK leaders to arrive at a mid-ground rather than outright reject any understanding with Sasikala. If the two parties even have a seat-sharing arrangement that would pose a tough challenge to the DMK front,바카라 says S. Ramesh of Thuglak.
The widening rift has naturally enthused the DMK which feels that the party would stand to benefit the most from Sasikala바카라s return to the state바카라s political scene. 바카라The contest which was EPS versus Stalin has now become EPS versus Sasikala versus Stalin. They will be fighting more with one another rather than train their guns on the DMK, which suits us admirably,바카라 says DMK legilsator M. Subramanian. Unless the BJP compels both sides to sit down and repair the rift, Sasikala바카라s arrival can only undermine the AIADMK바카라s bid for a third term in power.
By G.C. Shekhar in Chennai