With one speech, OPS transforms into Chennai's newest mass hero

What is the image that O Panneerselvam held across Tamil Nadu before Tuesday night? It is hard to say accurately, but a few generalisations can be safely made. A leader in the Thevar caste, words like 'dutiful' and 'obedient' would have come to mind. 

However, much of that changed on Tuesday night when a hitherto hidden face of Panneerselvam emerged - rebel, defender of the voters and mass hero. 

In a sight that perhaps one might have never expected, thousands of ordinary Chennaities gathered outside Marina Beach, and later at Panneerselvam's home, to angrily demand that none other than he be the leader of Tamil Nadu. 

Loud denunciations of Sasikala filled the air along with cries of 'OPS Vazhgai!' as various media organisations happily gathered sound bytes. 

Much of this feeling was a spontaneous outpouring after OPS' speech outside Jayalalithaa's memorial on Marina Beach. In that speech, an emotional OPS gave a long timeline, at last revealing the behind-the-scenes events that led to his resignation and the sudden elevation of Sasikala. He listed the many humilations he faced, and in the end, steeling himself, made it plain that he would bear it no more. 

"I am ready to be CM if the people want," OPS declared, and it would seem like those words were all that the people assembled there wanted to hear. 

The grumbling against Sasikala's abrupt takeover of the AIADMK has been a background noise so far. OPS' speech has brought those feelings roaring into the limelight, though it is hard to say how of this Chennai-centric feeling extends to the rest of Tamil Nadu.  

It would seem a significant number of voters simply needed a lightning rod to focus their feelings, and OPS has become that rod - perhaps much to the surprise of Sasikala and many political observers. 

Perhaps it should not have been such a surprise. The previous times when OPS was the CM, he did everything he could to make sure there was not even a shadow of a doubt that he was going to do anything that came close to strong action, apparently content to merely keep the government in neutral until Jayalalithaa returned. 

Ever since her death, he has been extremely proactive - whether it was the oil spill or the more overwhelming Jallikattu protests. And he has victories under his belt as well now. Jallikattu passed in favour of the protestors, generating plenty of good will, especially in Chennai. 

Also, now that Jayalalithaa is no more, more than one protester/supporter pointed out to the assembled media cameras that they voted for Jayalalithaa and Jayalalithaa picked OPS as her nominee for CM, not Sasikala. 

This is perhaps the first time in OPS' career that he became the centre of such emotion. So far, mostly he has been seen with indifference. Not anymore. Political fortunes in Tamil Nadu are built on grand gestures. 

And perhaps as is par for the course in as politically charged a state like Tamil Nadu, all it took was one dramatic speech before Amma's grave to transform OPS into the newest folk hero of Tamil Nadu. 

The only thing to see now is if he can keep this wave going. Sasikala has most of the MLAs for now, and even now, Chinnamma can end OPS' party. But will the voters stand for it? 

• Sasikala
• O Panneerselvam