The people of Tamil Nadu who voted the AIADMK to power in 2016 have been made to look like complete idiots by the 134 party MLAs who today unanimously elected late chief minister Jayalalitha’s sidekick, Sasikala, as the leader of the legislature party, paving the way for her to become the Chief Minister.
The electorate did not vote for the AIADMK with Sasikala in mind. Even with Jayalalitha as the chief ministerial candidate, it was not a thumping victory for the party, it was just a simple majority.
The voters will hardly have thought that Jayalalitha would die soon after, allowing Sasikala to manipulate her way to the top.
What a mighty fall for the party founded by MG Ramachandran (MGR) who used his personal wealth for the cause of the AIADMK.
In contrast, Jayalalitha and Sasikala were only known to be looting the State, with cases still pending in courts against the latter.
It is time an independent probe is ordered into the death of Jayalalitha.
Sasikala has never contested any election so far as she was more like a personal helper for Jayalalitha.
It may not be that simple a relationship as Jayalalitha was so enamoured of Sasikala that the two together took a holy dip at the Mahamaham on February 18, 1992 in the temple town of Kumbakonam.
A stampede ensued and 50 people were crushed to death. Mahamam is a festival celebrated every 12 years.
Servility to the Fore
Since Dravidian politics took centrestage in the State with the rise of the DMK to power in 1967, Tamil Nadu has only seen servility and sycophancy, with the MLAs crawling before charismatic leaders.
They do so even now though Sasikala never had any individual charm. But then the Dravidian politicians, generally a dusky and crude bunch, love fair-skinned scum.
This kind of dummy politics can happen only in Tamil Nadu, the State that has now become a laughing stock like never before.
G Joslin Vethakumar
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