In dapper suit, Edappadi K Palaniswami lights up social media

Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami's western dress on his UK trip has attracted derisive social media reactions by people amused by the 'farmer' attending his official engagements 'suited and booted' in the British capital. His lieutenants in the ruling AIADMK and the Cabinet have hit back, stoutly defending their Maanbumigu Muthalvar who must dress like a Roman when in Rome, or like a British gent in London.

One of the memes showed him walking to the background music of Rajinikanth's blockbuster 'Badsha' while another had the famous James Bond score to pep up high-voltage energy.

The photographs and videos put out by state government agencies and in the various media  — the Tamil TV channels in particular — caused a big uproar in the social media with a few appreciating his efforts but many choosing to poke fun at the 'farmer' going around his British engagements dressed in an Englishman’s attire.      

The red tie went well with the green-grey suit and the CM actually looked handsome in a rugged way, but to the 'mischievous' twitterati and FB followers, here was an opportunity to wave out their creative talents and poke fun.

However, all that abounding sarcasm on social media got slammed by Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman who said it was condemnable that a Tamil was being ridiculed thus for wearing a dress suited to the place he was visiting and the occasion involved (meeting with British MPs, medical experts and so on).

Senior ministers like D Jayakumar have pointed out that CM Palaniswami has gone on the foreign trip only to trigger excitement by showcasing the positives of Tamil Nadu as the best destination for investors looking towards India, considering that China has become a tricky place after its trade showdown with the U.S. And he's dressed prim-and-proper for the occasion, for the white audiences, they pointed out.

Meanwhile, it was interesting to note that the CM had in his London speeches referred to the many positives that “my government” has done to take Tamil Nadu fast on the growth graph. It's usually the 'government of Puratchi Thalaivi Amma' and the CM owning up the State's hard work has not gone unnoticed.

Plus the pose he had struck while on the dais with the British dignitaries. “He is imitating MGR, whose best remembered photo frame had him place his right hand just below the lips in a handsome way”, said an AIADMK veteran. This trip, along with all those speeches, videos and the photo shots, is clearly establishing Edappadi Palaniswami as the AIADMK's new brand builder, perhaps even replacing Amma in course of time.