From tea vendor to chief minister!

(Courtesy of Khaleej Times)

At a sombre ceremony at the governor’s bungalow in Chennai, a teary-eyed Jaya loyalist, O. Panneerselvam (also known as OPS), was sworn in as the new proxy chief minister of Tamil Nadu. SANDHYA RAVISHANKAR profiles the man who has openly prostrated at Jayalalithaa’s feet openly in public functions

It was déjà vu for Tamil Nadu. Barely two days after powerful South Indian leader Jayalalithaa Jayaram was jailed for possessing wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income, Tamil Nadu once again got a proxy chief minister.

“After 13 years, OPS is back in the chief minister’s seat,” said political observer Gnani. “He is the obvious choice – a thorough Amma loyalist, he will be a perfect stand-in for Jaya, keeping the seat warm until she comes back,” he said.

Who is OPS?

A farmer and owner of a tea-stall in Periyakulam, Theni district of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam is a well-liked quiet, polite politician, who hails from a family of All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) loyalists.

“Panneer’s father Ottakara Thevar was an MGR (AIADMK founder and popular cine star) loyalist,” a senior AIADMK leader close to OPS’ father told. “Whenever MGR or his men would visit Kodaikanal or surrounds, food and tea would be supplied only by Ottakaara Thevar. And Panneer grew up in such a family,” said the AIADMK leader who requested anonymity.

Having joined the party in 1972, OPS first held a party post as Periyakulam town secretary of the AIADMK in 1994. By 1996 he was the chairman of the Periyakulam Municipality.

In May 2001, Jayalalithaa plucked him out of political oblivion and made him the Revenue Minister of the state. By September 2001, Jayalalithaa was forced to resign as chief minister due to a conviction in the TANSI case by the Madras High Court. OPS was installed as the stand-in chief minister as she exited.

“Panneer is completely loyal and devoted to Amma,” said the senior AIADMK leader. “When he was made chief minister in 2001, he refused to even sit on the chair, saying that was Amma’s chair and he functioned as CM sitting on a chair next to hers. There is no doubt about his unwavering loyalty to her and that is his biggest asset,” he said.

OPS went to great lengths to win his leader’s trust. Not caring about being ridiculed for his display of loyalty, OPS is one of the many senior leaders in the AIADMK to prostrate at Jayalalithaa’s feet openly in public functions, a sign of surrender and devotion. Jayalalithaa, over time, grew to trust him — a victory for OPS, considering that he had been in the rival Janaki faction against Jayalalithaa just after MGR died in 1987.

“OP sir has always put Amma above family,” said Manavalan, a close associate of OPS’. “In fact, at one time, he had come to Periyakulam to perform some rituals for his younger sister’s daughter who had come of age. As per the custom here, OP sir is the girl’s maternal uncle and he had to be present to conduct the ceremonies. But even before the function began, he got a summons from Amma. He just told his sister that he had to go as Amma had called, asked her to explain to his niece and left immediately without performing his duties,” he said.

Among colleagues and voters, OPS is known as an easygoing and approachable politician. “He will meet everybody,” said Nagarajan, a close friend of the new CM. “He is respectful even with children. He will say Vanakkam (greeting in Tamil) to everyone, even to a child. That is part of his good nature and his upbringing,” he said.

“OP sir is decisive, he has a mind of his own,” said Manavalan. “If someone poses a request to him, he will say yes or no categorically. He will also make sure he gives clear reasons if the answer is a No,” he added.

Manavalan also said OPS is a master diplomat. “He will smooth-talk anyone,” smiled Manavalan. “If someone makes a mistake, he will call that person and gently explain to him/her why it is wrong and tell them not to do it again,” he said. Nagarajan agrees. “He will deal with you gently but he will also pull you up if you cross a line,” he said.

This pure vegetarian is a hardworking politician who, his colleagues say, has a connect with the people. Manavalan reminisced about an incident that took place a few years ago. “OP sir was visiting his constituency when he witnessed an accident en route,” said Manavalan. “Even though he was a minister, he stopped the car, rushed to the spot and lifted the bleeding victim himself, put her into his car and rushed her to hospital. That is the kind of person he is,” he said.

In 2001 OPS was clear that he was only the acting chief minister and that he had no aspirations to the top job. The last time he was chief minister, Jayalalithaa was not in prison and he was able to function as her stand-in, carrying out her orders. This time, however, being a proxy chief minister is likely to prove tough. With Amma in jail, the puppet-master’s strings appear to be broken. Will Panneerselvam finally rise up to the occasion? That is anybody’s guess

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