New Delhi, Dec 7: The Modi government will look to work closely with the new dispensation in Tamil Nadu, support chief minister O Panneerselvam and build an equation with Sasikala, close aide and confidant of the late J Jayalalithaa.
A leader with a keen eye for detail, Jayalalithaa went over the GST law and its implications with central emissaries before deciding not to press her opposition to the point of an adverse vote in Parliament. Even during the current ruckus in Parliament over demonetisation, AIADMK MPs have stood in their seats and not joined the noisy protests staged by Congress and TMC in the well of Lok Sabha.
Keeping the relationship going and buffering it from possible aftershocks will be a challenge, said political sources who pointed out that Sasikala's role is likely to be crucial, requiring the BJP leadership to strike a chord with her. The AIADMK leader's long illness had given the Centre some time to consider its options and it moved swiftly to back Panneerselvam's installation as CM.
Governor C Vidyasagar Rao lost no time in administering the oath of office once Panneerselvam was endorsed by the AIADMK legislative party, a signal that he was not keen on considering any other claimants to the chair.
The Centre does seem to recognize that it is still early days and it is not easy to see how AIADMK does post-Jayalalithaa as there was no designated successor and Sasikala's proximity to the late leader makes her an obvious power centre.
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