(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The development followed a meeting Jayalalithaa had with Panneerselvam and some other AIADMK functionaries at the Bangalore Central Jail.
Supporters of Jayalalithaa hold her posters as they sit on a fast during a protest against the court verdict in Chennai. -Reuters
AIADMK legislators elected Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam on Sunday to succeed the jailed J. Jayalalithaa as Tamil Nadu's new chief minister.
The decision was made known after a meeting of the legislators in the party headquarters in the heart of Chennai. A party leader said that Panneerselvam would call on Governor K. Rosiah later in the day.
The expected development followed a meeting Jayalalithaa had with Panneerselvam and some other senior AIADMK functionaries at the Bangalore Central Jail earlier on Sunday.
Panneerselvam had become chief minister in similar circumstances in 2001 for a brief period.
A special court in Bangalore late Saturday sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years in prison and fined her Rs100 million for amassing wealth illegally when she was the chief minister in 1991-96.
Representing Bodinayakanur constituency 63-year-old Panneerselvam used to run a tea stall which is now looked after by his relatives.
OPS as he is known in the party maintains a low profile and is a staunch loyalist of Jayalalithaa.
He entered politics in 1996 and became the head of a local body. In 2001 he was elected to the assembly from Periakulam and became the minister for public works department.
Panneerselvam was the first person from the Thevar community to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 2001.
He was also leader of opposition when AIADMK lost power in 2006.
The swearing in ceremony of the new ministry is expected to take place Monday.
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