In Tamil Nadu, it is going down to the wire. Barely a day after two warring factions of the AIADMK decided to put their differences behind them, it seems that the alliance could come undone even before it takes off. Playing spoilsport to the party is TTV Dinakaran, nephew of AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala. Dinakaran has already met the Tamil Nadu Governor claiming support of 22 MLAs, who stand with him in their collective refusal to back the new government of Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniaswami. Reportedly, ten more are likely to jump the ship into Dinakaran’s camp.

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These are game-changing developments that threaten to sink the ‘unity’ ship even before it sets sail. Cashing in on the confusion is DMK president MK Stalin, who has written to the Governor arguing that the state is going through an “unprecedented constitutional crisis” and that the present government cannot muster up the requisite majority to rule the state. Dinakaran’s ploy is likely to put paid to the plans of EPS and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who were keen on taking Sasikala out of the power equation.

Many of the MLAs supporting Dinakaran said their intention is not to destabilise the government, but to unseat EPS from the post of chief minister. The purported strategy will be to ask EPS to prove his majority, failing which the Dinakaran faction will call for the elevation of a new chief minister. Irrespective of how the political game plays out, it is a pity to see a redoubtable party under the astute leadership of Jayalalithaa falling apart from infighting and factionalism.