Clad in his trademark white dhoti and shirt with sleeves rolled up, the 66-year-old Palaniswami appeared affable and down to earth as he sat down with THE WEEK for an exclusive interview. But, he was strict about following Covid protocols. A glass barrier on his desk separated him from visitors. And he declined requests, by Deputy Photo Editor Bhanu Prakash Chandra, to remove his two-ply face mask. “I advocate that people should wear masks. I am particular that I practice what I preach,” he said. “But you may ask me any number of questions—about me, my governance. I am ready to answer.”
Palaniswami opened up about a number of issues such as the corruption charges leveled against him by the opposition, his tenuous ties with Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s delicate balancing act with the BJP. He may not be articulate or charismatic like his predecessors M.G. Ramachandran or Jayalalithaa but hidden behind his unassuming personality are unmatched survival skills, incredible resilience, and a sharp political mind, which have given him control over the party and the government.
Esta historia es de la edición February 21, 2021 de THE WEEK.
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Esta historia es de la edición February 21, 2021 de THE WEEK.
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