Minister Gilli Sarath has been caught up in a series of controversies, from the tablet incident on the cricket ground to the Tambaram Municipal Corporation tender scam. Even as the opposition raised the question, “Did the minister use drugs?”, senior leaders of the TVK say the Chief Minister is deeply upset with “Gilli” Sarath.

Meanwhile, the recently surfaced Tambaram Municipal Corporation corruption scandal has pushed him further into the 'Danger Zone'. Sources in Fort St. George say that the first wicket in the TVK government’s cabinet could even be 'Gilli' Sarath.
When we spoke to some senior TVK leaders about this, they said, 'It was Gilli Sarath who sparked the first controversy in this cabinet in a way that caused the Chief Minister considerable embarrassment. A video showing him finely crushing a tablet on a cricket ground was released, and it faced severe criticism.
DMK members took to the streets and protested against Minister Sarath. At that very moment, the Chief Minister became tense. The Chief Minister’s side sought an explanation from Sarath. He had also explained, saying, “They are turning something done in jest into a serious issue.” Even so, the Chief Minister’s anger did not subside. Those close to him said that if action is taken now, it would be as if we ourselves were admitting the allegation.

During the cabinet reshuffle, they were cool about taking action along with the group. In the meantime, Sarath met the general secretary and tried to apologize and settle the issue. However, the general secretary did not give in to Sarath either.
'The matter has gone to the leader; he is the one who has to decide,' he said, throwing up his hands. Only after this did he try to win over the Chief Minister by reciting a poem about him in the Assembly and score some points. While the Chief Minister passed by with a smile when other members praised him, the very next day after Sarath sang his praises, he sent a note to the Speaker saying, 'Do not allow anyone to speak in praise of me.'
That was also a sign that the Chief Minister’s anger had still not subsided. It was only after this that, despite being the minister in charge of Chengalpattu district, Gilli Sarath was not included by the leadership in any election responsibility for the Madurantakam constituency. Even so, Sarath was confident that, as time passed, that drug-related issue would simply fade away. Moreover, he was sure that as a first step, the Chief Minister would not lay a hand on someone who had come from the fan club.
It was in this situation that the Arappor Iyakkam dropped a bombshell. It exposed the tender scam that had taken place in the Tambaram Municipal Corporation. Once the matter was found to be true, the Chief Minister’s Office immediately transferred the municipal commissioner to the waiting list.

The intelligence department has also become alert after seeing the swift action of the Chief Minister’s office. It has begun investigating whether the minister had the involvement of those concerned in this matter. Once the Chief Minister returns from London, there is a possibility that the matter related to the Tambaram Municipal Corporation tender scam will reach the Chief Minister’s desk.
'Anyone who does wrong, I will throw them out. Be careful!' the Chief Minister warned right in the Cabinet meeting itself. Even after that, they have meddled in the Chief Minister’s own department. The Chief Minister will not let this pass so easily. They say Gilli Sarath’s future lies in the note that the intelligence department is going to give the Chief Minister.'
'Although the Chief Minister is taking the Gilli Sarath issue seriously, he will not take any action before the by-election is over,' say those close to TVK’s strategic circles. They further say, 'If his post is stripped away before the by-election, the opposition parties will turn that into a campaign issue. Also, some social equations within the Madurantakam constituency have to be taken into account. So there will be no problem for Gilli Sarath’s position until the by-election result is out.'
Being in the cabinet is a huge responsibility. People in Panaiyur circles firmly say that if one does not act cautiously and keeps causing embarrassment to the Chief Minister, there is every chance that the cabinet’s first wicket itself could be a gillie sarath.!
