After the death of J. Jayalalithaa, her close aide V.K. Sasikala unanimously elected as the AIADMK Legislature Party leader replacing O. Panneerselvam. Now once again Ms Sasikala is likely to replace Panneerselvam who is the present Chief minister of Tamil Nadu. She is going to take oath as Chief Minister on February 9.

AIADMK held a party meeting on Sunday afternoon to discuss on whether Sasikala can become CM or not.

Interestingly, outgoing Chief Minister O Panneerselvam proposed Ms Sasikala’s name for the CMs post.  Once sworn-in, Ms Sasikala will be the third woman Chief Minister of the state after late Janaki Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa.

“I, O Panneerselvam, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK Treasurer, propose a resolution to elect ‘Chinamma’ as the leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party. I propose the resolution since we all feel that the head of the party and the government should be one and the same. And I have resigned as Chief Minister,” Mr Panneerselvam told the meeting, amid thunderous applause from the legislators.

Mr Panneerselvam, held discussions with Ms Sasikala at the Poes Garden residence before the important meeting, proposed the resolution which was passed unanimously. Outside the conference hall, AIADMK cadres went into the celebratory mode and burst crackers and distributing sweets.

Will Sasikala Natarajan Take Over as Tamil Nadu CM?

BY M. DIVYA SRI