Stalin, O Panneerselvam Tamil Nadu’s newest best friends?

Stalin has asked the Governor of TN to facilitate a "functional government" in Tamil Nadu Stalin has insisted that “strict action” should be taken against people who forced OPS to resign

Stalin is a major stakeholder in Tamil Nadu politics, yet in a surprising move, DMK chief Karunanidhi’s son has come out in support of O Panneerselvam. Will this fan the flames of Sasikala’s accusation against OPS? In this volatile atmosphere – definitely.

Once Panneerselvam rebelled against Sasikala on February 7, the whole of Tamil Nadu has been in turmoil. Now there are three definite camps emerging  – one OPS, we still don’t know who all are supporting him, the other formidable force is Sasikala, who claims to have AIADMK party support and a rising force is Deepa Jayakumar. That is not to say, we should discount Stalin, who is being primed to take on the role of the opposition is the working President of DMK.

Yet, in this case. Stalin has come across as an unlikely supporter for OPS. Stalin has assured that the  DMK would function not as an enemy but as an opposition party and support a functional government in this time of crisis. He has even requested acting Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to establish a "functional government" in Tamil Nadu immediately.

He has vocal of his displeasure of the events that occurred since Jayalalithaa’s death. Previously, when Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai  appealed that AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala should become the CM, Stalin immediately criticised him for  'undermining the post of TN chief minister and the swearing-in made by the governor as per law'.

Now also Stalin is harping on the same lines. He has insisted that “strict action” should be taken against people who are forcing a chief minister to resign, referring to OPS’ statement  that he was “humiliated and forced to resign”. He also sided with OPS saying that he was also sure that Panneerselvam was not being allowed to govern and that Sasikala was the one orchestrating all the political moves in TN.

Previously also, Stalin came out in support of OPS during the time he was running from state to centre to get the Jallikattu ordinance passed.

Panneerselvam’s rebellion has not gone down well with Sasikala, who was hoping to get the CM throne without much opposition. She has come out to accuse OPS of joining hands with DMK. She has said, “DMK is behind Panneerselvam...The reason is that in the recent Assembly session the Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition were looking at each other and laughing together."