The grumpy senior leader of the Sun Party, when he was in power, would reportedly call and speak to party members only when good days or auspicious occasions came around. But whatever lesson defeat taught him, he now reportedly goes out of his way to call and speak even to the lowest-level functionary in his constituency.
He had stayed away from the constituency altogether out of the embarrassment of defeat, but now he has set up camp there itself. Sitting at the front of his house from early morning in a T-shirt, he patiently asks after the well-being of party members who come to meet him, and reportedly advises them, “What are the kids at home doing? Make sure you educate them properly. Education is what matters most.”
Recently, speaking candidly with a few of his closest supporters, he said, “Losing is nothing new to me... I’ve already lost twice. But that’s different; this is different. Even if I had won and gone into the church this time, like the man from Trichy, I too would have had to hand it over to my younger brother and sit down. So in a way, let’s take it that even the defeat was for the best.
Even though we’re not in power now, the officials still come to us for advice on everything. They’re calling me and complaining that the ministers in office now don’t even know which issue to speak on where. It seems even the winners are just keeping quiet. The district secretaries are apparently putting on airs with the officials, saying, ‘Whatever funds come in, you must inform us,’” he said with a laugh.