Speculation over Jaya successor

The Central Hall of Parliament buzzes with conspiracy theories when the two Houses are in session and members take a break to meet each other across party lines and also with journalists. What’s currently gnawing at the minds of members is the future of Tamil Nadu politics after the passing of J Jayalalithaa and the possibility of a Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Some members believe that a senior minister in Narendra Modi’s government was in Chennai to convince superstar Rajinikanth to join politics. According to members, the minister promised Rajinikanth the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the government if he projected himself as Jayalalithaa’s successor. However, those who claim to know Tamil politics rubbish the speculation.