Could the BJP make inroads in TN, given the political turmoil in the state?

As an individual who was raised in a Tamil household, I always found Tamil Nadu politics fascinating. The fact that national parties such as BJP and the Congress have never formed a government in the state speaks volumes of how the DMK and the AIADMK have reached out to the people of the state.

That is until now.

On Sunday, protests were seen on the streets and on social media after it was announced that V K Sasikala aka Chinnamma (little mother) would most likely take over as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.  While Sasikala’s fate lies in the disproportionate assets case, in which former Chief Minister the late J Jayalalithaa was also named, people on social media have already taken for granted that she will be sworn in.

With #RIPTN trending on Twitter, individuals such as cricketer R Aswhin, who aren’t known for their political views said that 234 job opportunities would be available shortly. While a number of individuals assumed that it was the number of seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Ashwin clarified his tweet saying that it had nothing to do with Sasikala.

Actor Kamal Hassan tweeted, “With peacock feathers light, you load the wain; Yet, heaped too high, the axle snaps in twain” meaning, The Hindu puts it, “You might be loading a cart with just peacock feathers but if the load exceeds capacity it will break the cart”.

Here are some other tweets

The descent from Mahatma Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi has now been equalled and perhaps even surpassed by the descent from Periyar to Sasikala.

— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) February 5, 2017

Days are not far away when people will select their CM in a reality show like 'who wants to be a chief minister' #Sasikala

— Dharmesh Kumar (@fakefixer) February 5, 2017

What is intriguing is that while celebrities from the state may not be vocal about national-level politics, everyone has an opinion when it comes to Tamil Nadu. “What I’ve experienced during my stay time in the state is that while Karunananidhi and Jayalalithaa had their critics, nobody questioned their leadership because they were able administrators and this is evident in the state’s growth in the past decade,” said film editor Varun Bhonsle, whose family moved to Trichi three generations ago.

Bhonsle’s claim on Jayalalithaa’s and Karunanidhi’s administration can be corroborated with a 2010 statistic that suggested that the state was the most economically free state in India by the Economic Freedom Rankings for the States of India i.e.  “the absence of government coercion or constraint on the production, distribution or consumption of goods and services beyond the extent necessary for citizens to protect and maintain liberty itself". In 2016, Tamil Nadu was ranked two, just after Gujarat.

With Sasilala’s swearing in, people are questioning the party’s directive as they feel that the move will push the state backwards.  As a Chennai resident, who didn’t want to be named says, “Everyone in Tamil Nadu has an opinion and it is all talk and no action. Sasikala’s appointment will only weaken the foundation of the AIADMK and O Panneerselvam is set to lose the respect he has had,” he said.

When asked if this was an opportunity for the DMK to return, Rudra Krishna, a Chennai resident said that the residents of the state are asking for President’s Rule. “There are petitions on Change.org demanding president’s rule,” said Rudra.

While there are reports that suggest that the BJP isn’t too happy with Sasikala’s appointment, this is the perfect opportunity for national parties to address the vote bank. And who knows? The state may see a brand new face in 2021.