The merger of both the factions OPS and EPS was announced on Monday by Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and the current Chief Minister E. Palaniswamy marking the day as the beginning of the golden period in the history of Tamil Nadu politics.
At the prevailing scenario, the political equation in Tamil Nadu still seems to be critical. The demand put up by OPS faction for the merger was that former Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s close acquaintance Sasikala and her family members should be expelled from the party. Though the merger has been accomplished to maintain the unity and discipline with the party is altogether a different chapter. Removal of Sasikala was promised but there may be some changes regarding this after the merger. Also with TT Dhinakaran still a member of the party is raising a lot of speculations regarding the future of AIADMK.
There was no successor nominated by the late Jayalalitha, making way for three contenders to inherit the legacy left by her. Pannerselvam, Palaniswamy, and Dhinakaran all are in the race of acquiring the seat of the Chief Minister. Jayalalithaa too had to fight for MGR’s legacy, before becoming the unquestioned supremo of AIADMK. However, it will not be easy for any of the three to have that kind of grip over a party which has a huge cadre that has looked up to its larger-than-life charismatic leaders.
AIADMK and DMK have intricately worked around various vote banks and the caste equation is rigorously calculated while fielding candidates for the polls. With OPS faction headed by the dominant Thevar community and EPS by another dominant Gounder community, the situation may become a matter of concern for the party as of how to continue its delicate caste balancing act to ensure representation and advantages to smaller caste groups remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, BJP has denied of any contribution regarding the merger, the recent meeting of all the three leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks something different. There are clear indications that PM Modi’s meeting with Panneerselvam and Palaniswami had a lot to do with the AIADMK merger. That the event happened after these leaders had many photo-ops with the PM and the sudden precipitation of activities make it look like that the AIADMK leaders have been acting on a deadline set by New Delhi.
BJP has been thriving hard to make its presence felt in Tamil Nadu politics, however, did not get much success until now. Now with both Pannerselvam and Palaniswamy sharing more than friendly relations with the Prime Minister, BJP’s importance and influence in Tamil Nadu is likely to increase.