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  Age on Sunday   19 Feb 2017  Testing times for OPS

Testing times for OPS

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Feb 19, 2017, 2:06 am IST
Updated : Feb 19, 2017, 3:57 am IST

More threats, hostility and uncertainty are on the way for O. Panneerselvam, with rivals likely to up the ante in the days ahead.

O. Panneerselvam (Photo: PTI)
 O. Panneerselvam (Photo: PTI)

O Panneerselvam’s loyalty and devotion to the late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa is reminiscent of Bharat’s loyalty and devotion to Lord Rama in the Ramayana. Panneerselvam, who was called upon to stand in for Jayalalithaa when she was hospitalised, not only refused to take her seat but also refused to operate from her office even as he handled all the eight portfolios that she was in charge of. He wept openly at her demise. So, it was only logical that he would be asked by the party to take over as CM after her death.

However, there were people in the ranks who favoured Sasikala, Jaya’s old time friend and confidant, to take over as CM, but the fact that she had never held a political office probably went against her. The job therefore, went to Panneerselvam, who began his career as a tea stall owner like PM Narendra Modi. Ganesha feels that Panneerselvam will have to face rebellion both from within and outside his party.

The Moon indicates instability
The Moon is placed in the star of Mars and is afflicted by Ketu in the 6th house, which indicates that though the party has tided over the immediate crisis after Jaya’s death, the questions regarding the longevity, popularity and stability of the government will still remain bothersome for Panneerselvam.

DMK may fancy its chances of forming the government
The Sun is placed with Saturn. So, the threat of its rival, the DMK would loom large. This combination also indicates that the grassroot level political leaders might try and arouse casteist feelings and that might weaken Panneerselvam’s hold on the administration.

Jupiter to the rescue
The Lord of the ascendant Mercury is placed in the 4th house and is in exchange with the mighty Jupiter, which will help Panneerselvam consolidate his position. It will also provide him with the necessary breathing space.

The ‘Walk Together’ approach
Panneerselvam will try to bring all the party leaders under one roof. The ‘all-inclusive’ and ‘walk together’ approach will help OPS keep the party members together as a unit. His strong administration abilities along with a flexible approach towards his opponents may help him to overcome any immediate threats.

Sticking together not that easy
Currently, the Sun is transiting through the sign of Aquarius and is in conjunction with Ketu. This transit will remain extremely critical for his government. Adding to this, the Sun-Mercury-Ketu conjunction in Aquarius from February 23, 2017 will remain adverse for his government. His government will remain under threat till March 14, 2017.

Prone to vulnerability
Mercury is hemmed in between malefic planets, which creates the papakartari yoga. This points out the vulnerabilities of his government. Though the government may look stable from the outside, it will remain vulnerable to external and internal shocks. It is likely that Panneerselvam will have a strong influence on state policies and will continue the welfare policies.

Challenges for OPS
The stars reveal that a huge challenge will emerge during the latter half of 2017. During that time, though the transiting Jupiter will help him to manage the situation, he will face considerable trouble. His tenure as the CM of Tamil Nadu will remain challenging and the period starting from November 2018 till the end of July 2019 will remain very crucial for him. There may even be some uncertainty about the survival of his government.

Conclusion
Even if his government survives, the stars reveal that major challenges will emerge during the latter half of 2017. The path will become more slippery. His tenure as CM of Tamil Nadu will remain challenging and unstable. But if Panneerselvam is able to wade through these sensitive phases, he may do considerably well.

Tags: narendra modi, sasikala, panneerselvam