AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is being projected by his supporters as a steady hand who has kept the party running even after the death of J. Jayalalithaa. While minor incidents and internal opposition have surfaced, they claim these have not posed a serious threat to the party so far.
The article recalls that after Jayalalithaa’s demise, EPS became Chief Minister and later secured the party’s general secretary post, managing to keep the government from collapsing at a time when many did not expect it to last.
Supporters now argue that EPS has consolidated control over the party and shaped alliances on his terms, saying he did not yield to pressure from the BJP and protected constituencies seen as favourable to AIADMK. They point to complaints from local BJP leaders, including K. Annamalai, as evidence that the BJP had to soften its stance.
Some voices, including Jayalalithaa’s former aide Poongundran, are cited as praising EPS’s resolve as reminiscent of Jayalalithaa. However, critics counter that such assessments will ultimately depend on how many votes AIADMK secures, and that the election will be the decisive test.
Political observers quoted in the piece describe the contest as a “goat-and-tiger game”, with EPS facing opponents on multiple fronts. They say the results will determine who emerges as the “goat” and who proves to be the “tiger.”
