Sasikala Natarajan to be new TM CM, Panneerselvam resigns

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) general secretary Sasikala Natarajan on Sunday was elected as the legislative party leader of the party and with this she is all set to take over as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Incumbent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O. Panneerselvam proposed the name of Chinnamma (Sasikala Natarajan) as the leader of AIADMK legislature party leader.

"AIADMK chief Sasikala Natarajan aka Chinamma all set to become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. AIADMK MLAs elect Sasikala Natarajan as legislative party leader. Current Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam proposed the name of Chinnamma (Sasikala Natarajan) as the leader of AIADMK Legislature Party Leader," AIADMK said in a statement.

Speculations were rife that party general secretary Sasikala would be chosen as the new legislative party leader - paving the way for her to assume the chief minister's mantle. Though many party leaders favour such a move, a few believe Panneerselvam should be retained because he is doing a good job at the helm of affairs.

Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa and AIADMK leader KC Palaniswamy complained to the Election Commission (EC) that Sasikala's appointment as the party's interim general secretary had been carried out in an undemocratic manner. The Election Commission issued a notice to the AIADMK, seeking clarifications in this regard.

Sasikala, J. 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.