In the last three days, Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, his cabinet colleagues and senior party functionaries have been making a beeline to the Garden every morning to hold discussions with Sasikala
A garden can be green, full of trees and flowers, with softness and fragrance all around. But in Tamil Nadu, the Garden is the epicentre of power – at least as far as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is concerned.
Late MGR's house, Ramavaram Thottam (garden), was a massive power centre for a decade. For nearly 30 years, Jayalalithaa's residence in Chennai, the Poes Thottam (Poes Garden) has remained a power centre. For her aide, Sasikala, the biggest political weapon today is the Garden and the absolute power it wields over the cabinet and the AIADMK.
In the last three days, Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, his cabinet colleagues and senior party functionaries have been making a beeline to the Garden every morning to hold discussions with Sasikala.
Decisions have been taken here in the last three days. Some opposition parties have raised the issue of propriety and whether the state was being ruled by an extra-constitutional authority. AIADMK office-bearers and spokespersons on Saturday pooh-poohed such charges and said that there was nothing wrong in senior AIADMK leaders discussing party matters with Sasikala.
AIADMK organising secretary and former minister C Ponnaiyan said Sasikala was a senior member of the party, and she looked after their leader until she breathed her last for nearly 30 years. He said Sasikala had sacrificed all that she had, to take care of Jaya. With ministers, party leaders and even officials visiting the house regularly, it is clear that the Garden is the real Secretariat and party headquarters.
When Jayalalithaa was at the helm of affairs, she was largely inaccessible to most ministers and officials. Even the chosen few were mostly given instructions over the intercom. Sasikala would be the one relaying decisions to the party and to the government through a set of advisers to the CM. They would, in turn, inform the chief secretary, the home secretary and the DGP.
This system continues to work even today. Advisers get instructions from Sasikala, they would pass them on to the CS, the DGP or the home secretary, and the files may be finally signed by Paneerselvam. Sasikala does not need any post to ensure that her fiat runs in the government and the party. Will she take a party post or one of her family members take over?
For the moment, she realises that sections of the media and even some disgruntled men in the party do not take kindly to her. Perhaps, she would bide her time rather than show haste in grabbing a post now. She may choose the moment, after a few months, or she would keep away from all posts and still rule the party. It is said that she allotted party tickets to many MLAs before elections.
There is one problem, though. Both Paneerselvam and she belong to the powerful Thevar community in the south. The Gounders, who form a significant chunk of the party, would want one of them to be the party general secretary. The Vanniars are a dominant lot in northern Tamil Nadu. The Dalits are quite strong in most parts of the state. Sasikala has to maintain a caste balance while filling up the posts.
The party's general council may be convened to elect a general secretary. One section of the party is pressing Sasikala herself to take up the post. However, she may put off her decision to assume an important post till the second half of 2017, when partymen may ask why not.
Perceptions matter a lot in politics and Sasikala may wait to strike at the right time.
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