Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Barry is usually not a careless writer. Yet her first line refers to Jayalalithaa as a starlet, which is an odd way to refer to someone who starred in over 140 films and has been an iconic figure in India’s political scene. There’s also the curious headline that claims Jayalalithaa’s demise “leaves power vacuum”. There is a clear line of succession and regardless of what may follow, Panneerselvam is the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Sure, there were some speculations about who would take over the position of power in All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), but these are at the level of rumours.