Breaking: Endgame In Sight In Tamil Nadu’s Political Crisis

Highly-placed sources have told Swarajya that a potential breakthrough - one that could end the bitter power struggle that threatens to destabilise the eight-month-old All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government in Tamil Nadu - is in sight.

A key element of the compromise formula that was achieved, thanks to the intervention of a respected spiritual guru in Tamil Nadu, could see a powerful minister from Kovai region elevated as Deputy Chief Minister. It was also agreed that key sitting ministers in the O Panneerselvam caretaker government will be retained and few influential ministers, who were not inducted in Jayalalithaa cabinet, may also get berths.

Operationalising the compromise formula and ending the crisis, though, may be easier said than done. The immediate challenge is the reluctance of cops to clear two layers of AIADMK stormtroopers, owing allegiance to the “Mannargudi Mafia”, who have surrounded the luxury resort and are alleged to be keeping the legislators in captivity. Despite clear instructions by the administration to act against the hired goons, a section of the police, who have the blessings of V K Sasikala and her cronies, are delaying any action to rescue the MLAs.

Efforts are on to reason with the police authorities to obey the orders.

It is estimated that a little more than 90 MLAs are still holed up in the resort. The “Mannargudi Mafia” has been stoking the fear that a vertical split in AIADMK will lead to the dissolution of the legislative assembly.

Rumours doing the rounds in Chennai say that the leader-elect of the resort faction of AIADMK, Edappadi Palanisamy, may come under police scanner for alleged nefarious activities. A file on his misdeeds is apparently supplied to the governor.