“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” These words of famous playwright William Shakespeare will bring no comfort to the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu and former AIADMK leader, O Panneerselvam, commonly called OPS.
He has four namesakes in the Lok Sabha race!
OPS tried hard to be recognised as the real head of the AIADMK. However, he lost that fight. Now, the leader may have to prove who the real OPS is.
Incidentally, OPS is fighting his first Lok Sabha election. He cannot afford to lose votes to namesakes in the upcoming closely-fought polls.
The nomination deadline for the LS elections is coming to a close in the state which is going to the polls on April 19. In this situation, the presence of five O Panneerselvams in the race from Ramanathapuram, including the ex-CM, is likley to be a source of potential confusion.
OPS is contesting from Ramanathapuram as an Independent candidate. However, sources said he is batting for the BJP-led NDA.
The four other ‘OPSs’ are also all Independents, with one of them a resident of Usilampatii, another of Kattur, and two of Madurai. In case of one, the resemblance with the original OPS goes deeper.
“This candidate, 61, is the son of Otchathevar; while the name of the ex-CM’s father is Ottakarathevar. The name Panneerselvam is common in Tamil, but a name starting with ‘O’ rare. The other Panneerselvams are the sons of Otchappan, Oyyaram and Oyyathevar, respectively,” official sources said.
There is more to come. Apparently, two more OPSs may spring up on the candidate list by the last day of filing nominations.
Meanwhile, both the AIADMK and DMK are claiming that the other is trying to confuse voters!
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