Reporter’s Diary: Modi joins gallery of TN leaders on OPR letterhead

Joining images of CN Annadurai, MGR, Jayalalithaa, EPS and OPS, is a substantial cut-out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This inclusion has come as a surprise to many, because no other Tamil politician carries pictures of leaders from other parties on their letterheads. Though there is no defined protocol, official letterheads of AIADMK functionaries and Ministers usually carry the image of MGR and Jayalalithaa prominently, followed by the images of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

Ravindranath delivered a brief address in the winter session of Parliament which was given out as press communique on his official letterhead. That’s when it became apparent that Modi’s image not only appeared first but was also printed ahead of both Jayalalithaa and MGR.

Sources in the party claim that Panneerselvam is in the process of getting a ministerial berth for his son and this is part of their bid to woo Modi. In fact, during OPR’s recent visit to the US, he commenced his address by saying that he hails from the land of Modi, - again a departure from the style of TN leaders, who usually stress on Tamil pride over national identity.