In this one year since December 2016, the AIADMK has lived a lifetime packed into a little over 365 days. With three Chief Ministers, the endless switching of MLAs, various divergent and convergent claims towards stakes in the party and an ultimate roundup in the RK Nagar bypoll elections, Tamil Nadu at large and the AIADMK in particular, has not spent a single day without intense action unfolding at its behest. A timeline of the events that have unfurled since Jaya breathed her last explicates the massive legacy that the beloved leader carried upon her shoulders. Her absence, therefore, has had reverberations often further enhanced than the echoes that were felt during the time she governed Tamil Nadu politics. A herd without a herdsman, with members running astray searching for a direction without knowing the destination, perfectly summarises the AIADMK's condition today. At a loss of perspective, unable to ascertain their goal and squabbling over matters that are deriding public interest, the party has reached a nadir after occupying the boastful zenith for a long time, under the very able leadership of its supremo, Amma. The results of the RK Nagar bypoll that swung entirely in favour of Sasikala's ousted nephew TTV Dinakaran, spelt further dismay for the AIADMK that has been reeling under pressure from all corners, particularly from within. The unity that had been ensured by Jayalalithaa's evoking presence and partially even by Sasikala's dominance is entirely amiss now as the party is scavenging for a leader they could submit themselves to. The RK Nagar constituency gained currency as it was Jaya's erstwhile seat, from where she had last contested the 2016 assembly elections and won with 97,218 votes against the DMK's 56,673. The vacant position was understood as the chance to set claims upon Jaya's legacy which now had multiple contenders, as the natural successor within the AIADMK had proved to be incompetent of fulfilling this position. Though Dinakaran came out with flying colours, the veracity of the election is still mightily questionable, for many reasons. First, Dinakaran is known to be a master tactician whose ground level planning often involves underhand techniques of distributing money and gifts to lure voters towards his side. Second, the instance of the victory for Dinakaran is less of his success and more of the AIADMK's defeat. This election which saw hardly any votes sway towards the DMK has paved the way for questions regarding a possible understanding between the DMK and Dinakaran to utilise the elections as a means to rattle the AIADMK, which is already reeling under excessive discontentment and pressure. Nevertheless, shrewd planning and smart manipulation is an asset in political management that must not be discounted as a liability or an action in defiance of norms. The AIADMK had put forth its very senior leader and presidium chairman E Madhusudhan, to contest against Dinakaran as well as the DMK and BJP, both of whom have remained insignificant in these elections. Yet, Madhusudhan fell flat on his face when put up against a clever Dinakaran, who has since the last two decades been AIADMK's master planner of electoral play. The outright defeat of Madhusudhan explicates how the public has lost entire faith in the AIADMK to posit a leader as enviable as Amma. Dinakaran's win statutes an understanding that the Dravidians may have recognised him as the only one who remains as an option to carry forth Jaya's legacy. Also, with Dinakaran standing against the AIADMK, in the backdrop of an existing crisis that had ignited the party—there rests a question in the minds of the people regarding who to understand as the true AIADMK. Dinakaran's victory will witness further disintegration of the party that has had stalwarts like MGR and Jaya leading it from the forefront, as several MLAs will now shift their gear towards the Sasikala camp. Several leaders have already expressed their tacit appreciation towards Dinakaran and it will not be a surprise if the AIADMK now tries to woo in his sympathy. If challenged in the assembly, the AIADMK may fail to prove its majority, now that several leaders will begin shifting towards Dinakaran's camp. An unprecedented mid-term election would flower in brighter days for the DMK whose significance has been dwindling as the AIADMK continues to grab headlines. However, Dinakaran is unlikely to opt for mid-term elections. He would rather opt for a method of toppling the existing government by asking for a floor test that would hand the chief ministerial seat to him. . The unity which Jaya had sought and Sasikala had thereafter communicated from jail is quickly dissipating as the AIADMK journeys from zenith to nadir.