OPS Vs EPS: AIADMK Merger Talks Stuck On Who Will Be The Chief Minister

The divorce was comparatively easy. It’s getting back together that is proving tougher for the two factions of the AIADMK.

On Thursday the two sides were still locked in confabulations amongst themselves on what to pitch when the merger talks actually get going from Friday – after two inauspicious days of Ashtami and Navami. But indications are that both sides have already struck relatively intractable positions. From the EPS side Lok Sabha Speaker M. Thambidurai threw the first stone by asserting that there was no need to change the Chief Minister since he had the backing of 122 MLAs and had also won a confidence vote in the Assembly.

Supporters of OPS state that their leader definitely has to be made Chief Minister since he was unceremoniously unseated by Sasikala and Co. “Our logic is simple. OPS was made Chief Minister twice by our Amma, whereas EPS was the choice of Sasikala. Now that the family is out of the equation, their chosen ones imposed on the party and government should also make way,” argued an MLA on the OPS side.

Another favourable point for ‘OPS as CM’ is his good track record even during his short tenure as Chief Minister after Jayalalithaa’s death. He managed the after effects of the Vardah cyclone well, tackled Chennai’s water crisis by getting Andhra to release more water from Krishna and defused the jallikattu agitation by passing a new law in double quick time. His only negative was the way he genuflected before Sasikala till he was asked to make way.

In comparison Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s performance has been lackluster. “He rarely came up with any replies during the budget session of the Assembly. Also he let a junior Minister like Vijaya Baskar run riot during the RK Nagar byelection which brought about the present crisis. He did not object even when Dinakaran made all the Ministers report to Thalavai Sundaram, his confidant and special representative to Delhi,” pointed out a senior Minster.

Even officials admit that OPS as Chief Minister had a mind of his own compared to EPS, who used to postpone decisions, obviously to take orders from Dinakaran. “If Dinakaran is really out of the picture Palaniswami may also become more confident,” said a senior officer.

But OPS scores over EPS in greater popularity and acceptability among the cadres and the public. “OPS acquired a moral sheen after his revolt against Sasikala, which also indirectly prevented her from becoming Chief Minister. For that the people of Tamil Nadu are thankful to him. This image makeover was visible during the RK Nagar campaign when OPS was greeted with genuine warmth by voters, especially women, who wanted him to get justice for Amma’s mysterious death,” said Rajya Sabha MP V. Maithreyan. “If the RK Nagar byelection is held after one month can EPS or his Ministers go back to ask for votes after having campaigned for the discredited Dinakaran only recently. Only OPS will have the moral authority to seek votes on behalf of the AIADMK,” Maithreyan added.

True, Panneerselvam in the last two months has acquired the image of a leader and in the absence of the shadow cast by the Sasikala family, can truly emerge as the true successor of Jayalalithaa. Even if the merger does not happen OPS can continue to pilot his faction as a separate outfit which will deny the other faction not only the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol but also the moral high ground.

This was echoed by K.C. Veeramani a Minister in the EPS cabinet while speaking in his constituency on Wednesday. “We are finally able to visit our constituencies without any sense of shame or fear. We know that people did not like our decision (to accept Sasikala and Dinakaran as leaders). Now that chapter is over and all of us will be united without the influence of that family,” he said while addressing a party meeting.

EPS may have the numbers to run the government but it would lack credibility unless headed by OPS. Similarly OPS continues to insist on an enquiry into Jayalalithaa’s death as it strikes a chord among the women of the state. The finding of such an enquiry could actually prove to be the last nail in Sasikala’s political coffin. DMK leader M.K. Stalin today observed that EPS and his ministers would not become saints if they made peace with OPS. But OPS will help dull the stain to a very large extent.