If you let the Camel in, it would evict you – the plight of AIADMK and the worries of OPS

The proposed mission of OPS (O Panneerselvam) to tour entire TN is must to save AIADMK. Indeed many feel that OPS has saved the state possibly from a family rule through his late night awakening and realization. Such awakening of OPS has indeed kept the entire India awake for a while and certainly thanks to the wisdom of Governor of TN, the state was saved.

The people of the state are solidly behind OPS because they believe he has saved the state. But unfortunately he could not save the party yet may be because some in AIADMK are still moving around like how moths move towards the light either to get trapped or get preyed by the lizard that stays in the shade of lamp. Soon people of Tamil Nadu will get a wonderful chance to reward all those so called ‘loyal bhaktas’ of a family, said many sympathizers of AIADMK.

OPS don’t seem to have any big game plan other than talking to people straight from his heart. Unlike some leaders who had tried to appear in youth garment like wearing jeans, T shirt, playing games with them etc., to connect to the youth, OPS is not engaged in any such changeling temptations. Youth never want the elderly person to come to them necessarily in youth garment to connect with them. All they need is clarity and clear road map and nothing more. Some leaders even try to imitate Amma in every respect from the style of her speech, following the dress code, hair style, public posture etc. Nothing is going to work with people because people want sincerity from the leaders, do not want family rule and dynasty and certainly expect corruption free governance.

In the crowded political bazaar of imitations and show-ism, OPS appear quite simple, down to earth, a true Ghandhian in every respect. The question of saving Tamil Nadu and party versus being in power, OPS chose the former and never wished or aspired to be in power. This may be because he had started his political career not for power but to serve people of Tamil Nadu, that is his gene and instinct. Besides that he also wants the dignity and cardinal principle of AIADMK to be protected from poaching by a family.

Amma trusted OPS whenever she had faced some crisis, today OPS has indeed repaid his gratitude to Amma by shutting the door of AIADMK for a family to enter into secretariat.

Many people in Tamil Nadu do question OPS as why he was silent and supportive when the party was submitted to chinnamma?

The answer is quite simple. People admit that she had served Amma for quite long and she may face severe solitude with the demise of Amma and hence it was the responsibility of the party to help her by giving some busy task to her. This is how some interpret. As a result of the above ‘truism’, many including OPS has made her as ad hoc general secretary of the party by defying the bylaws of the party. But it had ended up in Camel story.

Out of humility and humanity, the Arab merchant allowed the camel to put its nose inside the tent to warm from biting cold. But the greedy camel later tried to intrude inside the tent to own it for itself and wants to chase the Arab merchant. This example was narrated by some sympathizers of AIADMK.

Good will of the party to provide some solace to a person who had served Amma purely from humanitarian ground has been manipulated due to greed for power. Ironically many law makers of AIADMK may be thinking that they could rest under the camel and could save themselves from severe cold, but yet to realize that the same Camel under which they wish to rest may crush them when the Camel really wants to rest.

It is the people alone can save and support all the faithful law makers of a family and therefore the self certified loyal servants of people, sorry servants of a family must evict the camel soon and must save the tent.

Dr S Ranganathan