When Edappadi K. Palaniswami took over as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in February 2017, he was written off as a nondescript leader. Someone temporary. Many predicted that the government would fall within a year and an election was round the corner that would bring the DMK to power with Stalin as the Chief Minister. But as destiny would have it, the AIADMK government had not just managed to stay adrift but also strengthened its roots. Even the mindset of Tamil Nadu people had changed from “This is not the government I voted for. I voted for Amma. Who is EPS?” to, “The man is doing fine. Things are going good”, giving Palaniswami, a thumbs up.
Four years down the line, although the AIADMK could not come to power in the recently held Assembly Elections, the party has consolidated itself and has emerged stronger under a leader who has established himself as a doer.
The 4 years of good governance
Ever since the passing away of Jayalalithaa, the state witnessed multiple crisis – natural and manmade. On top of that, the AIADMK itself was facing turbulence with new developments churning every moment. But all the crisis brought out the leader in the man who everyone underestimated.
The state was hit by multiple cyclones – Ockhi, Gaja, Nivar and very recently Burevi. In all these, the government preparedness and the relief measures provided helped reduce the damage caused to lives and property.
Earlier, businesses were sceptical about putting their money in the state. With a successful Global Investors Meet in 2019 and a dashing trip to the US, UK and Dubai to pitch Tamil Nadu as the place to invest, he came to be seen as a proactive leader who knows his stuff.
For the last four years, numerous attempts were made by the DMK and its alliance partners to bring down AIADMK government by instigating protests. ‘Edappadi Palaniswami padhavi vilaga vendum (Edappadi Palaniswami should resign)‘ became the standard dialogue mouthed by the opposition like a stuck gramophone. But it all went in vain as EPS just went about doing his work.
Though the world knows that it was the DMK which had signed the methane extraction project, the DMK and other alliance parties along with its sympathizers in the media peddled a narrative as though it was brought in by the AIADMK government. But if the DMK had tried to put a yorker, EPS hit a sixer by announcing the Cauvery Delta region as a protected zone.
The protests over NEET, CAA-NRC, farmer empowerment laws also fizzled out with EPS handling them effectively. Gimmicks like coming out of the Assembly flaunting a torn shirt and moving no-confidence motions went bust. Attempts to turn people against the government by instigating them emotionally, though had its effect in the Lok Sabha polls, did not cow down his government. Strategic course correction and political astuteness helped the AIADMK win enough seats in by-elections to secure a comfortable majority to run the government till 2021. With rising stature of EPS both in the government and in the party, the AIADMK was able to pull off a commendable performance in the local body elections too.
From ‘Palaniswami’ to ‘EPS’ to ‘Edappadiyaar’
Over the last four years, EPS has come to be seen as a leader close to the people. Rising from the grassroots, he is seen as someone who is down to earth and a simpleton who understands people’s problems. His farming roots had allowed him to prioritize agricultural issues bringing an end to some of Tamil Nadu’s long standing problems like the Cauvery issue.
EPS also had proven himself to be someone who doesn’t hold back punches. He sent out a clear message to actors acting as part-time politicians that he is not someone to be messed with. In a pressmeet in November 2019, he gave a stinging rebuttal to the part time politicians that their fate would end up the same as Sivaji Ganesan’s. He said “Those saying there is a vaccum in leadership don’t even have the guts to contest elections. Rajini and Kamal are only seeing politics as a post-retirement plan. While the former has been filling his coffers after announcing a ‘grand political entry’, the latter is at a stage where only his party members are watching his new releases.” Yes, you don’t mess with someone who has immersed himself in politics since 1974, has been elected MLA 6 times, has served as an MP once, a Minister in Jayalalithaa’s cabinet and finally the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
What has amazed his opponents as well as the general public is the extraordinary work done by him in the recently held elections. He has broken all the barriers against him branding himself as a force to be reckoned with. He transitioned from being known as Edappadi K. Palaniswami, just another MLA in Jayalalithaa’s regime to ‘Edappadiyaar’ a mass leader and a tough rival to the DMK chief MK Stalin, credits to his astute political acumen and deft handling of political crises.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Edappadiyaar rose against it all and stands majestically in the field today showing that he is not someone who easily gives up. This election showed what a fiery fighter he is. It is to be noted that Edappadiyaar was the only star campaigner in the AIADMK to go to all the districts and campaign. His campaign vehicle had tirelessly circled almost all the 234 constituencies. In many places he campaigned in the scorching sun and spoke for at least 20 minutes at each location, touching on local issues. While newly bloomed part-time politicians were flying in helicopters, Edappadiyaar took to the road connecting with the people.
Campaigning in Madurai East, he said, “Do you want an MLA who comes looking for a house and resolves your grievances? Or do you want an MLA who infiltrates your house and attacks you? You know what kind of DMK candidate is contesting here,” the Chief Minister said. He also recalled incidents such as power outages, land grabbing and attacks on businesses during the DMK regime. “If you want to work peacefully in your business place without the fear of rowdies and goondas, do not vote for the DMK,” he said.
For the AIADMK, history has been made under the banner of Edappadiyaar. He stands here as a completely different personality, with the identity of the leader who has overthrown the maximum number of political opponents ‘inside and outside’. Edappadiyaar has scaled even further heights and has established himself as the true face of AIADMK.
As Edappadiyaar left the CM chair, I was reminded of the last scene from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. I could see myself being the puzzled son of Gordon asking his father “Why is he running dad?” on seeing Batman leaving.
“Because we have to chase him.” says Gordon to which his son says “He didn’t do anything wrong.”
Gordon goes on to say:
“Because he is the hero Gotham (TN) deserves but not the one it needs right now.”
“So we will hunt him”
“Because he can take it”
“Because he is not our hero”
“He is a silent guardian”
“A watchful protector”
“A dark knight”
As Edappadiyaar dons the new role of being the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, on the occasion of his birthday, let us all wish for his good health and pray that the man be given strength to march forward and come back stronger.
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