Dhinakaran victory in RK Nagar: Can EPS–OPS combine keep its flock together?

COIMBATORE: The results of the R K Nagar byelection have not only shattered the hopes of AIADMK leaders but sowed seeds of uncertainty among the rank and file of the party.
There is an apparent dejection among partymen who stood by the chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami - deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam combine. But the embarrassing defeat of party senior E Madhusudhanan in spite of contesting in the coveted two leaves symbol, which was won after a protracted battle in Election Commission of India, would be seen as a verdict on the alleged ineffectiveness of the EPS - OPS combine.

There was much conjecture that the 18 MLAs, who switched over to the TTV Dhinakaran camp, may return home in the event of Madhusodhanan's victory. But now there seems to be likelihood of a reverse trend, with more men from EPS - OPS faction switching loyalty to Dhinakaran.

Even before the final results of the bypoll+ had been declared, talks of desertion from the ruling dispensation surfaced. Grapevine in the AIADMK corridors was that an MP was set to meet Dhinakaran.

"Not just one MP, more leaders would be meeting TTV Dhinakaran in the coming days,'' said Dhinakaran's supporter Pughazhenthi.

By the time the results trickled in indicating a victory for Dhinakaran+ , senior leaders in the AIADMK were cautious in their statements. They neither wanted to appease Dhinakaran explicitly nor to offend him.

"We had sought votes for two leaves but did not ask people not to vote for the cooker symbol,'' said cooperatives minister Sellur K Raju when asked for his reaction on Dhinakaran's victory.

Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai said the election had revealed the lingering anger on the DMK.

Political analysts say Dhinakaran is not likely to be content with just R K Nagar victory and is bound to engineer more crossovers. Dhinakaran said more MLAs would back him, in addition to the sleeper cell MLAs who are in EPS camp, after his entry into the state assembly.

This time it would be much tougher task ahead for EPS and OPS to keep their flock together with the leaders getting a sense of people's pulse in RK Nagar.