Jayalalithaa's split legacy leaves the field open in Tamil Nadu

Three distinct factions with a powerful Opposition, are waiting to pounce upon an opportunity

The crisis in Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), has escalated. Seven months after the death of J Jayalalithaa, its supremo and the state’s chief minister, the party has split into at least three factions. All within a year after it was re-elected to office.

With a national presidential election in the offing and a legislative assembly session beginning this week, political experts are speculating on what lies ahead.

Without Jayalalithaa’s commanding presence, the AIADMK first split in February. One faction was led by her loyal aide and three-time chief minister, O Panneerselvam(OPS), who’d