It will be trial by fire for OPS in RK Nagar by-poll

With the RK Nagar by election having to be held on or before June 3, 2017, he has his work cut out in choosing the right candidate. Sources revealed that “Though some suggested that Sasikala could try her luck at the hustings, it was also pointed out that if she was made candidate then DMK would have a field day in pointing out various cases pending against her. So, the candidate has to be somebody with a clean image. Also, the party can expect the sympathy factor to work in its favour if the election is held early but if they are pushed to the end of the six-month period then a resurgent DMK could queer the pitch.” 

The ruling dispensation currently lacks a leader with charisma to draw crowds while DMK has both party Treasurer MK Stalin and party supremo M Karunanidhi. Meanwhile, social media is agog with speculations over the midnight swearing -in of Paneerselvam as Chief Minister, as this was not done even when MGR passed away in 1987.  It is the same predicament for the local body polls. A senior party functionary said, “DMK going to the court will give us some breathing space.” But as the state government will have to face this poll sooner or later, OPS will have a tough time satisfying the various groups in the party in choosing the right candidates. “With DMK straining to convert the 1% vote share difference between the Dravidian majors in its favour, wrong choice of candidates or a poll loss will go against OPS with strident demands rising for his abdication in favour of someone else” said a former MLA. Another task before OPS is, he will also have to control his family members from interfering with the the functions of the government as this was said to be the reason for Jayalalithaa sidelining him for sometime, a few months ago.