File photo: AIADMK leader O Pannerselvam
Chennai:
A day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was convicted and sentenced over an 18-year-old corruption case by a Bangalore court, members of her party the AIADMK are holding a meeting in Chennai to select her successor.
The party had earlier issued a whip asking all its legislators to be present in Chennai this afternoon. (With Jayalalithaa in Jail, Focus Now on Who Will Succeed Her)
The legislators are likely to elect a new Chief Minister, following the conviction and sentencing of Ms Jayalalithaa. The Supreme Court ruled last year that a convicted lawmaker can't continue as Member of Parliament or Member of Legislative Assembly and shall be disqualified from office. (Jayalalithaa Gets Four Years in Jail for Corruption, Fined 100 Crores)
Ms Jayalalithaa's advisor Sheela Balakrishnan, along with her secretaries, flew to Bangalore this morning reportedly to meet the jailed former Chief Minister. (What Jayalalithaa Had As First Meal in Jail)
Sources in the party indicate Ms Jayalalithaa could appoint her trusted loyalist and former Chief Minister O Pannerselvam yet again. He was elevated to the position in 2001 when she had to step down following her conviction in the Tansi land deal case; she was subsequently acquitted. (Jayalalithaa First Chief Minister to Lose Post in Corruption Case)
O Pannerselvam or OPS, as he is called, also belongs to the Thevar community, which is a key vote-bank for the party.
Till Saturday, there was intense speculation that Ms Jayalalithaa was considering a few names including Ms Balakrishnan, who is also a former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, former Director General of Police or DGP Natraj, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and former Advocate General Navaneedakrishnan, Visalakshi Nedunchezhian, wife of the late senior leader Nedunchezhian and former Transport Minister Senthil Balaji, to succeed her.
If everything goes well, the name of the new Chief Minister could be announced today and the swearing-in of the new cabinet could happen on Monday.
The party had earlier issued a whip asking all its legislators to be present in Chennai this afternoon. (With Jayalalithaa in Jail, Focus Now on Who Will Succeed Her)
The legislators are likely to elect a new Chief Minister, following the conviction and sentencing of Ms Jayalalithaa. The Supreme Court ruled last year that a convicted lawmaker can't continue as Member of Parliament or Member of Legislative Assembly and shall be disqualified from office. (Jayalalithaa Gets Four Years in Jail for Corruption, Fined 100 Crores)
Ms Jayalalithaa's advisor Sheela Balakrishnan, along with her secretaries, flew to Bangalore this morning reportedly to meet the jailed former Chief Minister. (What Jayalalithaa Had As First Meal in Jail)
Sources in the party indicate Ms Jayalalithaa could appoint her trusted loyalist and former Chief Minister O Pannerselvam yet again. He was elevated to the position in 2001 when she had to step down following her conviction in the Tansi land deal case; she was subsequently acquitted. (Jayalalithaa First Chief Minister to Lose Post in Corruption Case)
O Pannerselvam or OPS, as he is called, also belongs to the Thevar community, which is a key vote-bank for the party.
Till Saturday, there was intense speculation that Ms Jayalalithaa was considering a few names including Ms Balakrishnan, who is also a former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, former Director General of Police or DGP Natraj, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and former Advocate General Navaneedakrishnan, Visalakshi Nedunchezhian, wife of the late senior leader Nedunchezhian and former Transport Minister Senthil Balaji, to succeed her.
If everything goes well, the name of the new Chief Minister could be announced today and the swearing-in of the new cabinet could happen on Monday.
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