Why Stalin has an edge over Sasikala in Jayalalithaa's Tamil Nadu

On December 29, 2016, with renewed determination, the senior cadres of the All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) rushed to Poes Garden - a residence well known for its earlier occupant J Jayalalithaa - following the general council meeting.

In what looked like a well-rehearsed drama, senior party workers handed over the party resolution naming Sasikala the next general secretary.

Within days, on January 4, 2017, the next mega event in Tamil Nadu politics was witnessed. Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi's political heir M K Stalin was declared the working president of the party, a move that has not only been welcomed by the DMK cadres, but also by many among the public. Though Stalin will remain a step below Karunanidhi, the party president, he will enjoy all the powers of the president.

The two Dravidian parties are now venturing into a new phase with two new faces - Sasikala and Stalin. Last month's developments have shown that the AIADMK has been facing a huge setback with grass-roots level workers feeling thoroughly disappointed with the death of J Jayalalithaa.

"The people have been watching the whole thing with a lot of suspicion. There is a feeling of mystery surrounding the death of Selvi J Jayalalithaa and people think Sasikala played a huge role. The AIADMK top leadership has to change this feeling. For those in power Sasikala is the thread that can keep the government together; they still have four years to go. But for the general public there is no such thing and they have the right to be angry," said DMK spokesperson A Saravanan.

Stalin's engagement in active politics and the fact that he started off as a grass-roots level worker have given him the edge over Sasikala, who, without much of a political background, holds the top position in the party. Though senior leaders of the AIADMK have been successful in showcasing their solidarity and God-like reverence towards Sasikala, the grass-roots level workers aren't satisfied by the selection.

"Stalin is a natural choice for DMK. He has over four decades of active politics behind him. He came from the scratches. Inspite of his few short comings, he is the natural political heir of the DMK President M Karunanidhi. His acceptability level within the DMK is over 90 per cent so is his acceptability with the DMK vote bank."

"Even among apolitical masses after Jayalalithaa Stalin is slowly but steadily becoming an acceptable face. But as far as Sasikala is concerned she has been thrusted from the top by her MPs and MLAs due to their own reasons... there is a huge animosity prevailing among AIADMK cadets against Sasikala. As far as the general public is concerned over 90 percent don't like Sasikala and one can go-far as to say they loath her. The simple fact that Sasikala's posters were torn out and cow dung thrown on the posters proves the huge anger prevailing among her own party cadres," said political analyst R Mani.

For more than 28 years, the two Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu thrived on the charisma of the two leaders - J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi - and both have new successors today. The 75-day long hospitalisation of Jayalalithaa has had a strong impact on the people of Tamil Nadu and the disappointment of losing their leader has been evident in their reactions.

Though Sasikala has been trying to invoke memories of Jayalalithaa and her close relationship with the late chief minister, doubts linger in the minds of the people.

"The public might ignore Stalin but not hate him but for Sasikala people hate her especially women loath her. She has become the punching bag after Jaya's death. This might change in he future but now it is seen that women hate her and loath her through out Tamil Nadu. The ascendency of Sasikala is absolutely against nature," said Mani.

Sasikala has been trying to follow in the footsteps of Jayalalithaa, but it needs to be seen if her efforts will yield any fruit.