Tamil Nadu 2021 battle: As EPS vs OPS battle keeps AIADMK unsure, MK Stalin marches ahead

As Tamil Nadu political parties gear up for all-important state polls in 2021, turmoil has hit AIADMK as warring factions of Deputy CM O Pannerselvam (OPS) and CM E Palaniswamy (EPS) to choose a Chief ministerial candidate in upcoming polls. With Opposition leader and DMK chief MK Stalin gaining ground with an aggressive CM campaign, BJP is trying to soo factions to keep NDA stable in elusive sourn state. 2021 polls will be first state assembly elections in absence of late AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalitha and late DMK patron M Karunanidhi.

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EPS Vs OPS as Sasikala bids time

In recent executive committee meeting on September 28, several AIADMK leaders spoke to OPS allegedly about CM face - leading to OPS skip several COVID-19 review meetings. EPS, who faces incumbency,  eyes to retain his seat. AIADMK which has banned its leaders form airing political views to media is split into two camps  - OPS (who was chosen by Jayalalitha as her Deputy) and EPS (chosen by VK Sasikala - former general secretary & ex-aide of Jayalalitha) since demise of five-time CM Jayalalitha in 2016. Sasikala, who may be released on January 27, 2021 from Bengaluru prison, eyes rejoining AIADMK, but has been ruled out by party as of w.

Reports state that miffed by EPS, OPS has allegedly reached out to former AIADMK MP and AMMK founder TTV Dinakaran - who is also Sasikala's nephew. Dinakaran, who was ousted from AIADMK after EPS-OPS camps united in 2017 following Sasikala's criminal conviction, has been allegedly been approached by OPS is an attempt to mend fences. OPS has proposed formation of 11-member steering committee to reform party, which has been opposed by EPS. Currently, CM confusion continues as both EPS and OPS have held series of meeting with senior ministers including SP Velumani, KA Sengottaiyan, CV Shanmugam, and D Jayakumar. party is set to anunce its CM candidate on October 7.

Meanwhile, BJP which eyes to make inroads into Tamil Nadu has been trying to reunite warring factions. In fact in 2016, amid impasse between two camps, BJP had intervened to allow EPS to continue as CM and made OPS party's Conver, Deputy CM, naming late Jayalalitha as party's 'eternal' General Secretary. After her demise, her close aide Sasikala had taken over as general secretary, but was convicted and arrested in disproportionate assets case. With OPS quitting as caretaker CM, EPS, who was chosen by Sasikala, was made CM. Inspite of many calling him a 'place-holding CM',  EPS has emerged out of Sasikala's shadow - effectively handling COVID-19 outbreak, opposing Centre's GST roll-out, 'Hindi imposition', National Education Policy and banning religious celebrations amid COVID.

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Stalin's aggressive campaign

With major vacuum in Tamil Nadu politics, Karunanidhi's successor and son MK Stalin eyes his maiden CM term. Roping in rewned poll strategist - Prashant Kishor, Stalin has launched an aggressive campaign hitting out at CM EPS and Centre over a variety of issues - rising Hindutva in Tamil Nadu, CAA, NRC, Hindi imposition, COVID spread, inflation etc. Pairing with UPA ally Congress, Stalin has aggressively attacked Centre on its continued detention of Kashmiri leaders after its revoked Article 370 and 35 A. Recently, Stalin launched a massive rally against holding of NEET exams amid 4 student suicides in one week - vowing to ban exam if elected to power and against Centre's newly passed Farm Bills. DMK cant afford to lose a third straight Assembly election after sweeping state in 2019 Lok Sabha polls with 38 seats.

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Or smaller players in Tamil Nadu elections include - TTV Dinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and Superstars Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and Rajinikanth's unnamed party. While MNM contested in Tamil Nadu by-polls, failing to win a single seat,  Rajinikanth has confirmed he will contest in 2021 but is yet to formally launch his party. superstars have also hinted at a possible alliance to 'create a miracle in 2021 elections'. Meanwhile, former AIADMK ally and DMDK chief Vijayakanth has been conspicuously absent from political scene.

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