O. Panneerselvam vs Rajiv Gandhi

Panneerselvam was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after Jayalalithaa was convicted in a disproportionate assets case. He served as a loyal placeholder, ensuring AIADMK's continuity.

After Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, Panneerselvam was again chosen as Chief Minister. He led the government for a brief period before being ousted by Edappadi K. Palaniswami in a power struggle.

Panneerselvam staged a rebellion against the AIADMK leadership after being forced to resign. He claimed the party was being run undemocratically, leading to a split in the party before eventually reuniting.

After reuniting with the AIADMK, Panneerselvam was appointed Deputy Chief Minister under Edappadi K. Palaniswami. He held the position until the 2021 election loss, maintaining party unity.

After the assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi was appointed Prime Minister. He was the youngest person to hold the office, at age 40.

Rajiv Gandhi's government faced the aftermath of the Bhopal gas leak, the world's worst industrial disaster. The government's response, including compensation and legal action against Union Carbide, was criticized as inadequate.

Rajiv Gandhi's government overturned a Supreme Court ruling granting alimony to a divorced Muslim woman, passing the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act. This was seen as pandering to conservative Muslim leaders and sparked debate on secularism.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. His death was a major blow to Indian politics.