Sir — O Panneerselvam’s unstinted loyalty to jailed leader J Jayalalithaa is not unknown. When Jayalalithaa was jailed in 2001, she handed over the reins of power to him. later, Mr Panneerselvam unhesitatingly gave back the Chief Minister’s post to her. Now, he has chosen not to enter the designated chamber for the head of Government at the secretariat but function from his erstwhile Minister’s office.
This reminds one of what Bharat was towards his elder brother Rama, as explained in Ramcharitmanas. Mr Panneerselvam is to Jayalalithaa what Bharat was to Rama. Bharat kept the foot-wear of lord Rama on the throne during the latter's exile and ran the administration in lord Rama’s name. Seldom can one come across a case where a person would give up his seat of power once he/she gets it.