A Season of Chaiwallas

Looks like it is the season of chaiwallas in Indian politics. Earlier Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. Modi at his Madison Square Garden jamboree yesterday made it a point to imress on the massive gathering of NRIs that he had been a chaiwalla. Now O>Panneerselvam, a former teastall owner has become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

A question: If you cross Narendra Modi with Manmohan Singh what will you get? The answer is Panneerselvam. Like MMS, was the signora's front man Panneerselvam is Jayaalitha's benami after a special court sent her into the cooler for four years and slapped a massive fine of Rs 100 crores on her. And like MMS Omkarathevar Pannerselvam is a mild mannered man, a man of few words. If you have the bad habit of watching Tamil news channels you will find quite a few ministers giving speeches hosannaing Amma but you won't find OPS among them. A mouni baba like MMS? Quite likely And like Modi, he was deep in the tea business.

What qualifies Panneerselvam for his new job? For a start the CM's chair is not new for himl
Earlier when Jaya was put behind bars the Supreme Court disqualified her as CM and it was Panneerselvam who sat in the CM chair. On her behalf of course.

Wait, did I say sat in the CM's chair? I He dared not! During his last term as CM OPS, made it a point not to sit in the chair used by Jaya. The chair remained where it was waiting for the "rightful claimant" to return while OPS officiated as CM sitting in some other chair. Kissa Kursi ka?

OPS is educationally better qualified than Jaya. He is a graduate at least (Some profiles credit him with a master's in economics.) whjile Jaya is just a matric. But Jaya has the sophistication gained from posh private schools while OPS the small town hick, looks rustic.OTS is known to steer clear of any controversy and confrontation. The last time AIADMK was in the opposition Jayalalitha decided not to attentd the assembly and Panneerselam became the leader of the opposition. But he woefully fell short of his role. Once when the speaker suspended the entire AIADMK legislature party Panneerselvam didn't even reaxct and it was the other MLAS who protested vociferously. Jaya had to come back and replace OPS in his post
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Despite his drawbacks, OPS has one strong point. He is unshakably loyal to Jaya. There is this apocryphal yarn that during a visit to Delhi he heard a beggar seeking alms saying "Amma, kuch paise dedhe". He was so moved by the word Amma that he handed a 1,000 rupee note to the beggar. He is that much what in Tamil is called iAmma kondu (for the Tamil challanged, it means mama's boy or Amma's boy).

Is there a chaiwalla network in Indian politics like the old school tie network? If there is one then Panneerselvam can use it to get the bet possible deals for the state.

 

RGS while I don't know whether he had a portrait of Jaya in his home before which he genuflucted, it is an open secret that during his first tenure as CM he did not sit in Jaya's chair. (Some say he even kept a portrait of the lady in the chair).

 

kamalji hope you are not regretng not becoming a chaiwalla. May be that would have propelled you ino Rajasthan CM's chair. Dont' worry. If it is chaiwalla season now it may be garment exporters' season tomorrow.

 

Google you should immediately patent Amma Chai. You can extract a lot of cash in royalties from the Tamil Nadu government.

 

Viswa the dys of mannargudi mafia are over with Sasikala and kin being sentenced in the case too. Even earlier they had been sidelined bh J. who once even framed her ex "adopted son' in a drug case. Googleglass I think should go ahead and patent names like Amma chai, Amma Theneer etc. When our"humble kisan" Deve Gowda became PM he slept through his term but Modi doesn't seem to be sleeping at all.