Portrait of a corrupt leader
Jaya’s picture in the assembly undermines probity in public life
It’s been more than a year since the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister, J Jayalalithaa. Two things stand out about the state government she headed and her party, the AIADMK: One, the government is yet to get back on track (and is moving from one controversy to the other). Second, the AIADMK leadership is desperately hanging on to the legacy of Amma, as Jayalalithaa was called by the party cadre. On Monday, both these aspects were evident when a seven-foot portrait of Jayalalithaa was unveiled in the Tamil Nadu assembly by Speaker P Dhanapal. The AIADMK government’s decision to put up the portrait in the face of reservations from the Opposition, and when there is a PIL in the Madras High Court against the display of photos of convicted leaders in government buildings, is unfortunate. That Jayalalithaa was a leader who served time in jail on corruption charges amplifies the mistake.
The AIADMK’s argument that Jayalalithaa’s contribution to the state cannot be ignored is not acceptable. This is because in all likelihood, had she been alive, Jayalalithaa would have been in the Bengaluru Central Jail, like the three co-accused, including close aide Sasikala, in the disproportionate assets case. The Supreme Court’s observations in the case leave little room for doubt about Jayalalithaa’s corruption. Given this, unveiling her portrait in the assembly compromises the essential principle that probity in public life is non-negotiable. It also discredits her party.
The portrait finding pride of place in the assembly in many ways whitewashes her image. It also sends out the message that dishonesty and corruption are fine as long as the person concerned is seen as a mass leader and a saviour of the poor.
Had they not been driven by short-term gains, the AIADMK’s Palaniswami-Panneerselvam combine could have signalled their intolerance of corruption in their own ranks. But they chose to try and consolidate the AIADMK’s fragmented vote base and further sideline rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran. It would seem then that like their late leader, the EPS-OPS government attaches little premium to raising the bar of probity in public life.