Tamil Nadu Polls: O Panneerselvam - Seeking a blessing in disguise?

The Jayalalithaa loyalist is seeking a re-election from Bodinayakanur

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The long-time loyalist of J Jayalalithaa will be testing the waters from his constituency Bodinayakanur in Theni district of the state. Taking on against him would be DMK’s S Lakshmanan, setting the battle for a caste-based vote, analysts feel.  

A strong case in command for OPS, as he is called, could be the display of his leadership skills while he was the chief minister and the pro-poor schemes that were launched during that time. But caste politics could hurt his chances as well, political analysts opine.  

Panneerselvam stole the spotlight when, in 2014, he sobbed uncontrollably while taking oath as the stand-in chief minister as Jayalalithaa was sent to prison after being convicted in the disproportionate assets case. This was not the first time OPS, as he is called, displayed his worship to Jayalalithaa. In 2001, he was sworn in as the CM again in similar circumstances. At that time, he had refused to sit in Amma’s chair and chose to occupy one next to it. 

In fact, during his rule in 2014, he has never hesitated to attribute all the good deeds and decisions of the government to Jayalalithaa, whom the party men refer to as Amma (mother). In almost all the public functions and in the Legislative Assembly and even in Parliament, the AIADMK members start any speech by praising the guidance of Amma and taking her blessings.

Will he be blessed with a victory based on this devotee's prayers to the goddess?