LAUGHTER: Jayalalithaa’s Comic Legacy of a Political Party

Here’s a stand-up on the state of politics in the state, especially within the AIADMK.
Jayalalithaa didn’t have much to laugh about when she was alive. As an actress, she was constantly irritated, since it was a profession she was forced into by her mother. As a politician, she was reluctant, reticent, and often misunderstood. What was worse about the political field was that unlike in the movies, she was not given a platform.
With MGR’s death, she was an instant pariah. As long as she was alive though, she set about consolidating power and position in a manner that would put Sun Tsu to shame.
But unlike her mentor, MGR, she groomed no one to take her place. She brushed aside questions of her legacy. It was almost as if she had drawn an elaborate political Kolam (rangoli), only to have it destroyed overnight by the elements.
And so with her death, began the comedy of errors that has become the AIADMK party. Even after a year, the state runs on auto-pilot, based on the schemes and systems she had set in place.
Meanwhile, the musical chairs continue. Completely slapstick, yet dead serious.
Video: The Quint
Music: Big Bang Fuzz