Chennai: Over a month after she took charge as AIADMK general secretary following J Jayalalithaa's demise, V.K. Sasikala was Sunday elected legislature party leader, paving the way for her to become Tamil Nadu chief minister. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu governor Vidya Sagar Rao accepted CM O. Panneerselvam's resignation and asked him to continue until further arrangements are done.
The party is planning to hold Sasikala's oath-taking ceremony on February 8 or 9 as there are auspicious muhurats on both these days, a report said.
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At a meeting of party MLAs here, Panneerselvam proposed the name of Sasikala as the legislature party leader.
The 62-year-old Sasikala, also called 'Chinnamma' and Jayalaithaa's shadow in public for nearly three decades, later drove to the party headquarters where she was greeted by Panneerselvam and senior party leaders.
"It was Panneerselvam who had first persuaded me to become the chief minister and general secretary as well when Jayalalithaa passed away," Sasikala told party legislators.
With her elevation, which comes over a month after she took charge as AIADMK general secretary on December 31, Sasikala carries on the legacy of Jayalalithaa, who also held the two posts allowing her to wield complete control on the government and the party.
Prior to the meeting, Panneerselvam had arrived at the Poes Garden Residence to meet Sasikala.
After being elected legislature party leader, Sasikala said the AIADMK would strive for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu.
When Jayalalithaa was at the helm, Sasikala was considered to yield a huge clout behind the scenes. After taking charge of the party, she had pledged to take forward the legacy of the former chief minister.
Ever since Jayalalithaa's death, there has been a clamor that Sasikala should follow the earlier practice of both the party general secretary and the chief minister's post being vested with the same person.