OPS sworn in as TN CM after Jaya's death

In his third stint in the top office, O Panneerselvam was today sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu hours after his predecessor and party supremo J Jayalalithaa passed away after a prolonged illness.
A grim-faced Panneerselvam, who was also seen sporting a beard, was sworn in around 1.15 AM by Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao at the Raj Bhavan amidst a scene of gloom.
After he took oath of office, a total of 31 Ministers, all of them members of the previous Jayalalithaa cabinet, took oath in a simultaneous swearing-in.
Panneerselvam was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Rao, who air-dashed here from Mumbai yesterday after Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest.

Panneerselvam (65), often hailed as Jayalalithaa's 'Man Friday', took oath in the name of God.
This is the third time he is helming the state, acting as a stop-gap arrangement on earlier both occasions when Jayalalithaa was convicted in two separate corruption cases in 2003 and 2014.

Later, the Raj Bhavan in a release said that
Panneerselvam, MLA from Bodinayakanur, met the Governor and submitted a letter informing him of his election as leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party.
Panneerselvam took oath as CM with a photo of Jayalalithaa in his pocket.
The Governor "appointed him as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and invited him to form the government," it added.

Panneerselvam subsequently submitted a letter containing names of his cabinet colleagues and the portfolios allotted to them, it said, adding, the Governor approved the recommendations made by the CM-designate.
As Chief Minister, Panneerselvam will hold all portfolios held by Jayalalithaa including Home, besides Finance.
Panneerselvam retained all members of the Jayalalithaa cabinet.