Governance is now expected to arrive as well
The return of Ms J Jayalalithaa to the helm of affairs in Tamil Nadu, after the Karnataka High Court acquitted her in a disproportionate assets case, will breathe life into her State's moribund administration. In the eight months that she was away, following her September 2014 conviction, the State's administrative machine had almost come to a grinding halt. Mr O Panneerselvam, who was handpicked by Ms Jayalalithaa to take over the reins at least officially, was Chief Minister only in name.
Few had expected him to emerge as a tall leader in his own right, and it was understood that he'd be guided by the overall plan and vision that Ms Jayalalithaa had put in place, because, after all, she was the leader that the people of Tamil Nadu had overwhelmingly voted for. But Mr Panneerselvam was not even a functional stop-gap arrangement. He was a place holder at best, keeping the Chief Minister's chair warm for the actual leader. In the months that he supposedly led the Government, he refused to take any major decision, clear any important file or sign off any significant project work.
Tamil Nadu was brought to a standstill. Such was the condition of the State administration that even the inauguration of the Chennai Metro was put on halt. Now, with Ms Jayalalithaa's return, normalcy will be restored, and it is hoped that the Government will get back to the business of governing. The Chief Minister has a stellar record of good governance, and there is no reason to believe she will disappoint now.
Her leadership skills and strong administrative abilities have been hallmarks of the Governments she has led. During her first stint as Chief Minister, from 1991 to 1996, at a time when foreign investment was hardly the buzzword that it is today in the Indian political lexicon, Ms Jayalalithaa got auto major Ford to invest in Tamil Nadu. This eventually helped galvanise and re-shape the State's industrial scene.
As a result of such measures, Tamil Nadu is now among the most preferred destinations for foreign investment in India. The State's annual growth rate has been above that of the national average for years now. More recently, Ms Jayalalithaa's Government played a crucial role in resolving the State's water crisis — partly by pushing for a resolution of the Cauvery water dispute and partly through in-State measures such as the setting up of desalination plants and promoting rain-water harvesting.
On the other hand, her populist schemes, such as Amma's Kitchen, which offers subsidised food to the poor, and the distribution of jewellery to newly-wedded brides in need, have endeared her to the masses. She has adroitly combined populism with hard-nosed pragmatism.
Another aspect of good governance that will many will be looking forward to in Ms Jayalalithaa's latest chief ministerial stint, is her Government's relations with the Centre. Ms Jayalalithaa shares a warm personal rapport with the Prime Minister, who in turn is committed to empowering India's federal structure through cooperative and competitive federalism.
It is expected that the two leaders and the administrations they lead will resume work in close cooperation and, hopefully, set an example of how a strong Centre-State relationship can be beneficial to every stakeholder concerned.