AIADMK tussle may throw up new Tamil Nadu guv Banwarilal Purohit’s first big test

Banwarilal Purohit will likely have the most eventful beginning amongst the five new governors announced by the Union government on Saturday as he takes charge of Tamil Nadu, where a bruising power struggle within the ruling AIADMK has upset calculations in the assembly.

A breakaway faction threatens to dethrone chief minister E Palanisami. The matter is currently in court where a decision could give Purohit his first major task: calling a floor test while all parties keep a close watch on his every move.

Experts say that Purohit’s presence in the Raj Bhavan is likely to help the Bharatiya Janata Party. “What they did in Assam is known to everyone,” said professor Ramu Manivannan of Madras University.

Political commentator and columnist Gnyani Shankaran concurred with his view and said: “now they will do full time manipulating... The governor will be, ultimately, loyal to the centre and the BJP will definitely make use of him.”

Purohit is a veteran politician from Nagpur, the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He has represented the Congress twice and the BJP once.