Exactly two months after Jayalalithaa’s death, AIADMK MLAs were called for a meeting on Sunday at the party headquarters in Chennai. O Panneerselvam, meanwhile, prepared to submit his resignation as Chief Minister for the third time in his political career/
Following his resignation, the Legislature Party then elected Sasikala as its leader.
Announcing his resignation, Panneerselvam told media persons: "I resign as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK Legislature Party has elected Sasikala as the leader of the Legislature Party. The party welcomes the decision."
A long time loyalist of J Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam's first stint as Chief Minister was from September 2001 to March 2002.
At that time, the Supreme Court had termed Jayalalithaa's appointment 'unconstitutional', and ordered her to step down immediately, citing her conviction in the TANSI land acquisition case.
However, she was soon back at the reins by March 2002, after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction and she won a by-election.
In 2014, he was sworn in yet again, by then state Governor K Rosaiah in a tearful ceremony, following Jayalalithaa’s conviction in a disproportionate assets case.
He resigned on May 22, 2015, following Jayalalithaa's acquittal in the same case by the Karnataka High Court.
With Sasikala likely to swear in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, February 7, OPS has now officially hit a hat-trick with his resignations.
Sasikala has been an aide of Jayalalithaa for 30 years, and is considered one of her closest associates. While she has never held a public office before the former TN CM's death, her family - the Mannargudi clan - has held significant influence in Tamil Nadu politics for several years.
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