Sasikala to become Tamil Nadu CM

Swearing in likely today; OPS resigns

V K Sasikala is all set to become the third woman chief minister of Tamil Nadu following her unanimous election as AIADMK legislative party leader.

At an emergency meeting of the AIADMK legislators on Sunday, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who had earlier submitted his resignation to the governor, proposed Sasikala’s name as the leader by moving a resolution.

Panneerselvam, who had little choice but to vacate his position after a majority of the party legislators wanted Sasikala to be chief minister, told the meeting that the resolution would be handed over to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao.

Sasikala’s swearing-in is likely to take place on Monday. She would then become the state’s third woman chief minister after party founder MGR’s wife Janaki and Jayalalithaa. 

The former Jaya aide will also be the third to assume office after AIADMK’s second successive electoral victory in May. The 59-year-old’s elevation comes over a month after she took over as party’s general secretary following Jayalalithaa’s death on December 5.  Sasikala told AIADMK legislators that she is taking over since most of the senior leaders felt that the control of the party and the government should be with a single person.

Vowing that her party would work for the welfare of people, Sasikala said the AIADMK will function on the path shown by Jayalalithaa.

Before the party meeting, Sasikala held a detailed two-and-a-half hour meeting with Panneerselvam at her Poes Garden residence.

Third woman chief minister of the state after party founder MGR’s wife Janaki and Jayalalithaa

Opposition DMK says the election of Sasikala as the leader of legislative party is against people’s wishes

Sasikala terms Panneerselvam as most trusted brother after she was elected leader

Sasikala’s photographs in posters were defaced in several districts