Jayalalithaa the enigma of Tamil Nadu politics
and Deepak. Deepa was never allowed anywhere near the Veda Nilayam by Sasikala and her relatives. When she went to the hospital, Deepa was not allowed inside. She was also chased away by the goons hired by Sasikala, when the former went to Veda Nilayam on Tuesday morning to pay her last respects to her aunt. She, like the other common people, had to wait in the queue to get a glimpse of her departed aunt’s face!
Sasikala has pitched in for the post of General Secretary of the AIADMK, the most powerful position in the party. Though she has no formal education or any experience in public life, she has told her hangers-on that, working with Jayalalithaa for the last three decades itself is an experience. There are some hangers-on who have started addressing her as Chinnamma (Tamil for Mother’s younger sister). But, what is to be seen is that, in a caste ridden society like TN, whether people would agree to two members of the Thevar community, usurp the most important posts. Both Panneerselvam and Sasikala are from the Thevar community, while there are equally powerful and influential communities like the Gaunders and Vanniyars, who form the crucial electorate in the party.
Interestingly, AIADMK founder MGR was a Menon from Kerala (he was not a Tamil in any sense). Jayalalithaa was a Tamil Iyengaar born near Mysore, as her parents had settled there. Both MGR and Jayalalithaa had cosmopolitan outlooks, cutting above caste and communities. For the people of TN, both MGR (known as Makkal Tilkam, Tamil for Star of the People) and Jayalalithaa (Puraitchi Thalaivi, Tamil for Revolutionary Leader), were above caste and communal politics. Their previous roles as film stars had given them an aura of divinity and charisma. There are no leaders in the AIADMK to match the stature of these two leaders. Others are seen as local chieftains with their own vested interests and hidden agendas. In such a situation, what stands out is the question: What will happen to the AIADMK?
With Jayalalithaa leaving to fulfil her rendezvous with her Maker, some changes in TN politics is certain to happen. India’s ties with Sri Lanka is expected to improve, as the shrill demand for the retrieval of Katchatheevu islets would die a natural death. There is no leader in TN, as of today, to take up the issue with the spirit and vigour with which Jayalalithaa fought for it. The trespass by the TN fishermen into Sri Lankan waters too would come down, as there are no leaders in the State to take up cudgels on their behalf.
But, what is disturbing from the Sri Lankan angle is the revival of LTTE and its operations in Chennai. Intelligence and security experts in TN were shocked to receive releases issued by the LTTE, condoling Jayalalithaa’s death. It may sound strange, but Jayalalithaa never liked the LTTE. She was the only politician in TN, other than BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who demanded the banning of the dreaded outfit in India. The condolence message proves that the Tigers are alive and kicking in TN.