The sequence of events that was set rolling on September 22, 2016, was to have a profound impact on the fortunes of Tamil Nadu, changing the State in different ways — some of it obvious, and some as yet imperceptible.
On that night, WhatsApp groups started buzzing with rumours of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa being rushed to hospital. Frantic verification followed: a task that, at that time of the night, is precisely the kind of challenge that reporters both dread and live for. A small report was carried on the morning of September 23. Disproportionate perhaps, in retrospect, to the scale of events that were to follow.
The prolonged hospitalisation — lasting nearly 75 days — spurred confusing reports of the seesawing of her health, and the continuing uncertainties plaguing her discharge were akin to a festering sore within the fairly robust constitution of the state. If we were to make it a tad dramatic, there was an ill wind blowing in the State of Tamil Nadu. As long as Jayalalithaa remained in hospital, the State secretariat shifted headquarters to Apollo Hospitals, and the governance technically continued as if she were in charge. There were moments of lucidity, the doctors acknowledged, but, clearly, there were periods when others would have had to step up to make decisions. There was no caretaker government, and Ministers would often troop out to give glowing reports of her progress, statements they recanted months later.
Meanwhile, reports of stasis in the day-to-day governance were emerging every day. While the Ministers robustly denied the allegations, the collapse of the governance the State was used to was pretty obvious. Vexed by inaction and corruption, people began to look at the discharge of Jayalalithaa from hospital as a key catalyst. An event, as it turned out, that was not to be.
Period of instability
What followed in the months immediately after her death on December 5 was quite like the opening of Pandora’s Box — utter confusion, treachery, high drama, and lax governance tumbled out.
Nearly 75 days later, Tamil Nadu actually had a functioning Chief Minister in O. Panneerselvam. Within a short while, however, the State would go on to see Sasikala make a bid for the post but land up in jail, followed by a relatively low profile minister becoming CM.
The scales swung wildly before they were to settle with Edappadi K. Palaniswami firmly ensconced in the CM’s seat, Mr. Panneerselvam as his deputy, and a ragged semblance of normalcy setting in.
The political boat continues to be rocked in a manner that might have been impossible when influential leaders held the State in an iron hold.
