Ottakkara Panneerselvam, a trusted lieutenant and staunch loyalist, who stood in for party chief J Jayalalithaa thrice during crises became the state’s new CM.
Finance minister O Panneerselvam was sworn in as CM by Governor Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan. Earlier, AIADMK MLAs elected OPS as legislature party leader at a meeting held at the party headquarters in the city.
He's now the party's unanimous choice of legislature party leader and 8th TN CM.
On October 12, 22 days after Jayalalithaa was hospitalised, OPS was again given charge of her portfolios, including home and police, besides the task of presiding over cabinet meetings.
His two terms as caretaker CM were non-controversial.
The tea vendor-turned-politician also won the trust of Sasikalaa, when he managed the LS poll campaign of Sasikalaa's nephew, T T V Dinakaran from Periakulam.
