A beleaguered P Chidambaram, union home minister, is on a mission to convince the people of Tamil Nadu, especially those in his hometown Karaikudi, that he still enjoys the confidence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in spite of the 2G Spectrum Scam shadow and the controversy about his role in the SP Gupta case.
On December 26, Manmohan Singh will be the chief guest at a function to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujam at the Madras University in Chennai. Later in the day the prime minister will fly down to Karaikudi to be the chief guest at the convocation ceremony at the Alagappa University, an institution run by the home minister’s close relatives.
“The news that the prime minister is coming to Karaikudi took as by surprise,” said a university official. A public appearance with the prime minister is seen as something that will boost Chidambaram’s sagging image in his constituency, said the university official.
Chidambaram has also lined up two more functions for the prime minister. But the bigger question in the state capital is whether chief minister Jayalalithaa would be there in Chennai to receive Singh.
“The prime minister is coming to Chennai when his relation with the chief minister is at its lowest ebb,” said a political commentator who did not want to be named. “Even on Thursday, she criticised him for not replying to her letters seeking a special package to debt-ridden Tamil Nadu and for his silence on the Mullaperiyar issue. I do not think Jayalalithaa would go to the airport top receive him. She may leave Chennai for Kodanadu during the prime minister’s visit to Chennai.”
Though Jayalalithaa has shot off a dozen letters on various matters to the prime minister, he is yet to respond to any.
“While it will be an opportunity for Chidambaram to convince his voters that he continues to be in the good books of the Congress high command, Jayalalithaa could utilise the chance to openly snub the Prime Minister for ignoring her pleas,” said the columnist.
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