NCP terms Sasikala's appointment as Tamil Nadu CM 'choice of the coterie'

Even as the late J. Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala Natarajan was declared as the legislative party leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), indicating an imminent change in the state leadership, the opposing parties have raised questions over the 'mysterious' ways of working of the AIADMK. Another addition to the list is the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The NCP on Monday said the decision doesn't seem to be unanimous and appears to be 'the choice of coterie' only because Sasikala happened to be very close to Jayalalithaa.

"The legislative party has, according to the democratic way, already expressed their support to her becoming the Chief Minister. But this doesn't seem to be unanimous nor does it seem to be the choice of the cadre. It appears to be the choice of coterie only because she happened to be very close to Jayalalithaa," NCP leader Majeed Memon told ANI.

He further said that the NCP wishes Sasikala all the best.

"If there is total support or a majority support to Sasikala, she would certainly be sworn in as Chief Minister in couple of days and we wish her all the best. But then, even till today the very question of death of Jayalalithaa is also a mystery which needs to be resolved," he said.

Sasikala, a day before, was elected as the legislative leader of the party and with this, she is set to take over as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Sasikala, Jayalalithaa's closest aide since the 1980s, had handled party affairs on several occasions despite not holding any formal position in the AIADMK prior to the former chief minister's death.

She is called Chinnamma, meaning aunt, taking after Jayalalithaa - who was popularly known among her legions of supporters as Amma (or mother).

Sasikala will be the third woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after Janaki Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa.