In the small yet picturesque town of Kotagiri, about 29 kilometres from Ooty, this writer stayed for five days even before the election results were declared. During casual conversations with locals, despite exit poll predictions, most people mentioned either the DMK or the AIADMK, largely reflecting their traditional political loyalties. Very few believed that Vijay would emerge as a serious contender.
Ironically, much like the unpredictability of the misty Nilgiris weather, the results delivered a surprise. The BJP managed a lonely jackpot by winning the Ooty seat, while the other two seats in the Nilgiris district went to the DMK. Vijay failed to win a single seat in the region.
But rewind to the broader state picture after the results. Vijay, with 108 seats, emerged as the single largest party and, politically speaking, a moral winner. When this writer randomly asked people in Tamil Nadu about the fractured verdict, one trolley-auto driver carrying milk sachets offered a surprisingly sharp perspective. His first reaction was one of frustration — that the people had left Tamil Nadu in a state of confusion.
However, when questioned about Vijay lacking the numbers to form the government, the man responded instantly and unexpectedly. He recalled how PV Narasimha Rao governed India for five years in Delhi despite leading a minority government with only 232 seats in the Lok Sabha. “Why can’t Vijay be given the same chance in Tamil Nadu?” he asked.
According to him, other parties could simply extend outside support to Vijay, submit letters of support to the Governor, observe his performance, and withdraw support if he failed. When the discussion moved towards constitutional technicalities and legal complications, he brushed them aside, saying his “common sense” mattered more than political gymnastics. “Give him a chance. Period,” he insisted.
He also argued that Governors across states should not adopt different yardsticks under varying political pretexts, however justified they may appear.
Today, Tamil Nadu appears to be in political limbo, with some even predicting the possibility of President’s Rule. Every possible permutation and combination is being explored, reflecting the extent to which politics has degenerated. It no longer surprises people to see bitter rivals embracing each other overnight or sworn enemies becoming strange bedfellows, despite having abused one another in the filthiest language during election campaigns.
Almost a week into the uncertainty, what stands out on the streets is not panic but an eerie calm. Life goes on normally even without a government formally in place. In fact, some people are openly wondering whether the state is functioning more peacefully without political interference.
For a change, can political parties and television studios step aside and allow the bureaucracy and judiciary to function independently? That sentiment, surprisingly, is gaining traction among ordinary citizens tired of relentless political drama. Some even jokingly suggest giving politicians and sections of the media a six-month sabbatical before deciding how to move forward.
Governor’s Rule, they argue, does not fit into such a framework because it too becomes political, reducing the independence of the bureaucracy and constitutional institutions.
Ironically, the common man today often appears more focused and practical than a confused media ecosystem drifting rudderlessly in pursuit of TRPs. The less said about social media, the better. It is tragic that even mainstream television channels increasingly depend on social media platforms that circulate everything from credible information to half-truths and outright fake narratives.
At the same time, a DMK-AIADMK alliance would appear as politically absurd as Vijay voluntarily choosing to sit in the Opposition despite emerging as the single largest force. Sometimes, one gets the impression that every party prefers opposition politics while nobody wants the burden of governance. And if no one steps forward, who governs? The Governor under President’s Rule? That would perhaps be the greatest political tragedy of all.
Without doubt, many people in Tamil Nadu appear eager to breathe fresh air by giving Vijay an opportunity, even while fully aware that no politician is beyond scrutiny or criticism.
During the campaign, Union Home Minister Amit Shah openly declared that West Bengal would effectively be guided from Delhi. The question now being asked is whether the same political yardstick would apply to Tamil Nadu as well.
One more interesting aspect of this election was voter behaviour. People happily accepted money, gifts, and takeaways distributed by the DMK and AIADMK. Yet, many of them ultimately voted for Vijay, who relied almost entirely on his fan base and cinematic popularity rather than traditional electoral inducements. Perhaps even Vijay himself did not expect such a stunning performance.
If Vijay eventually accepts support from the AIADMK, he may also secure smoother access to Central funds — a political practice both Dravidian parties mastered during their decades in power. Vijay must realise that politics often demands compromise. He cannot have the cake and eat it too.
“Kuch paana hai toh kuch khona padta hai.”
To govern and serve the people, one sometimes has to sacrifice ideological rigidity for practical governance. But before making such compromises, Vijay must openly, honestly, and transparently explain to the people why such decisions are necessary and how they ultimately serve public welfare.
