OPS – the ‘change broker’ and BJP the ‘change maker’ should align for the future of Tamil Nadu

Large section of people of Tamil Nadu wish the rumor or gossip about the possible re-union talk between OPS (O Pannerselvam) and Edapadi factions of AIADMK comes true. They believe that such re-union is good for both the state and the party that was once lead by one of the tallest leaders in Indian politics, Amma J Jayalalitha. People never want the party to be in the hands of a family that has amassed enough wrath and hatred of people like how that family has amassed wealth by all means.

The greatest irony is that even the contestant of Edapadi faction of AIADMK in the forthcoming RK Nagar by poll doesn’t want to portray the picture of their leader Sasikala or invoke her name during election campaign. Such is the respect their leader has earned from people of Tamil Nadu. But unfortunately many MLA’s who won the last state election purely due the respect and reverence of Amma have substituted someone whom the people of Tamil Nadu disapprove and even many MLS’s want such person to become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Thanks to the wisdom of Governor of TN and the existence of justice and jurisprudence, such disaster did not take place, many say.

It is time for introspection. If the people who wants to be in power and taste all lawful and unlawful luxuries by being in power must understand the bitter truth that they are loosing their relevance and respect in Tamil Nadu and on the contrary, the reputation and respect of OPS is growing day by day. Many in Tamil Nadu have thought that the division in AIADMK would naturally help DMK. But the ground truth is that DMK has not earned such natural choice or preference of people. The unfortunate attempt of DMK to re-invoke and reignite the Hindi agitation by taking up the most irrelevant issue of sign of Hindi on highways has proved the impoverished and pauper state of affairs of the party which is searching for some issues for its political existence.

If the Edapadi faction of AIADMK dump the ‘baggage’ that people of TN hate the most and joins with OPS, certainly they can prove a lot as time is still not lost. People of Tamil Nadu are yawning for a change. OPS is largely seen as ‘change broker’ in Tamil Nadu. Similarly people see BJP as ‘change maker’.

If the other faction of AIADMK rally behind OPS, definitely they can give a new hope to TN. The old Drawidian style of politics of isolating Tamil Nadu in the name of Tamil pride is not going to work well for the state.

In jungle, the predators always try to isolate the prey animal from the herd to hunt. Similarly many political parties by invoking language and regional patriotism are trying to isolate the state so that the youth will remain jobless and restless so are without any hope. These politicians can continue to blame the central Government for such state of affairs and can again seek the mandate of people so that the vicious cycle will continue. Many youths in Tamil Nadu have started to feel the heat of Dravidian politics and how it had destroyed the state.

Mr. OPS is appeared to have understood this ground truth and he is the only leader to the best admission of many people have clear vision for the state. People of Tamil Nadu are asking Edapadi faction nothing but to come out of the shadow of the family.

Good old reductionist, identity centric, isolation based Drawidian politics also people never wants to continue and instead they want development centric, corruption free politics in the state. OPS is the change broker and the BJP is the real change maker. If these two groups join, definitely a new era of corruption free, development centric governance would begin. The youth of Tamil Nadu are looking for such change.

More the delay in re-union means, more the damage to the image and intent of Edapadi faction but it would never affect the image of OPS. Therefore identifying a leader for the leaderless AIADMK should be taken as top priority. OPS has already earned the ‘leader title’ of Tamil Nadu so the Edapadi faction can request OPS to be the leader of the party.

Election commission has given cap to Edapadi faction symbolically it means the Edapadi faction should find OPS to head the party and fit the cap. The lamp post symbol of OPS on the contrary appears like the two branches of the leaf symbol of the party but without leaves, many argue. Hope dynasty politics in TN would end and AIADMK would emerge as clear winner under OPS.

Dr S Ranganathan