This summer, Tamil Nadu thalaivars prefer political heat to cooler climes

Very few leaders have even cared to camp in nearby hill stations this year, which was a tradition with late CM J Jayalalithaa who ensured that she spent her summers in cool Kodanad. Even opposition leader M K Stalin who is known to regularly visit London and Thailand to beat the heat, has decided to desilt bone dry water bodies across the state this year after packing of his family to London for their annual vacation. His tour itinerary has also kept the district secretaries confined to their districts. Incumbent chief minister Edappadi K Palanisamy has settled for a simple visit to Tirumala, while his cabinet colleague state agriculture minister R Duraikannu has followed suit by participating in a ‘yagna’ at Thirunageshwaram temple to pray for rains, and escape the wrath of farmers.

Political analyst Raveendran Duraisamy said, “Since September 2016, there has been so much political activity and uncertainty in the state that no politician would want to miss all the action. They would not want to be seen missing when it matters,” he told DTNext. 

A prominent politician from the senior Dravidian party confirmed the speculation. “The political situation in TN is so fragile that anytime the power dynamics could change. Merger talks among AIADMK factions are not making any progress and the government could crumble any time. We would not want to be away when such a thing happens,” he said on condition of anonymity. 

While this is the case with the political bigwigs, even the minnows seem to have followed suit. An intemperate Vijayakanth who is staying off media glare of late has also restricted himself to the cool confines of his Saligramam residence. Another gen next leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss of PMK, who even got the ‘blessings’ of Pope in Vatican some time ago has showed no interest in travel besides shuttling between Thailapuram and his T Nagar residence during the dog days. 

The only exception to this rule seems to be actor turned AICC spokesperson Khusbhu Sundar who has been ‘sailing’ out of the country with her family for a fortnight now.