Jayalalitha's loyalist to be her successor
posted on Dec 5, 2016 @ 4:04PM
With Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's health state being critical. The news circulating is that he long time loyalist and party senior member O Panneerselvan could be named her successor. Panneerselvam has stood in for Jayalalithaa in the past, but he has repeatedly made it clear he is not replacing her and pointedly refused to sit in her chair at cabinet meetings. Once a tea stall owner, Panneerselvam, 63, held two key portfolios of Finance and Public Works in the Jayalalithaa ministry. Panneerselvam is the first man from the Thevar community to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Jaya, a reclusive leader, has run her party with an iron hand with no clear line of succession to govern Tamil Nadu. During her latest illness, her picture was put in a chair at the head of the table at state cabinet meetings. Jayalalithaa who suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday night, is in life support system according to hospital sources.