Reporter's diary: As Chinnamma mourns Queen’s death, many Qs

CHENNAI: The demise of Queen Elizabeth II could have happened in far-off England, but came as a ‘shock’ to some of the State’s politicos, with none other than ‘Chinnamma’ of TN politics deciding to put off a much-trumpeted show of strength.

But former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala deferring her scheduled “revolutionary tour” of the western districts to mourn the monarch’s demise was not taken kindly by many.

Social media warriors had a field day on Saturday, ridiculing Sasikala. Netizens dubbed the demise a “blessing in disguise” for Sasikala, who, they said put off the tour after failing to garner strength in one of Edappadi Palaniswami-led AIADMK’s strongholds.

Originally, she had planned to visit Salem – the native district of EPS and adjoining Erode, on Sunday.

The social media critics questioned why death in a country a few thousand kilometres away should thwart a revolutionary trip 300 kilometres away from home.

Undoubtedly, Sasikala’s enthusiasm has been altogether different when she undertook tours in the south or delta districts.

The west has always been a grey area for the 68-year-old former AIADMK interim general secretary who seems to have a tough job pulling the crowd in what is considered a bastion of the AIADMK, more so after the division in the party.

Magazines had reported last week that Sasikala, who planned a meeting at Coimbatore, wanted the organisers to shift it to Kancheepuram. After the news hit the headlines, a brave ‘Chinnamma’ announced the visit to Salem, ostensibly, to showcase her strength and rehabilitate her persona.