Edappadi Palanisamy, an ally of jailed and disgraced Indian politician VK Sasikala has been sworn in as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu state, ending a week-long tussle over succession marked by bitter infighting.
Wearing a crisp white shirt, Palanisamy took the oath of office along with 31 cabinet colleagues in the state capital Chennai at a ceremony beamed live nationwide.
Palanisamy took the reins of the ruling party after Sasikala was spectacularly hauled off to prison over a 21-year-old disproportionate assets charge just as she was on the verge of becoming chief minister of the southern state.
Sasikala, the former ‘shadow’ of popular CM Jayalalithaa had already been nominated for the top job before she was convicted Tuesday of amassing illegal assets worth $10 million, barring her from holding office for a decade.
Palanisamy, 63, was cleared for the top job after receiving Sasikala’s blessing and a majority vote from the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party.
Palanisamy must now prove his majority on the floor of the house within the next 15 days to cement his new position, Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao’s office said in a statement.
The AIADMK said on Twitter that the ‘vote of confidence’ would take place on Saturday.
Palanisamy, who served as a senior minister in previous governments, emerged as the frontrunner after Tuesday’s bombshell court verdict shattered Sasikala’s political ambitions.
Tamil Nadu, one of India’s most prosperous states, was plunged into political crisis after its long-serving chief minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram died suddenly in December.
Her close aide Sasikala – a one-time video cassette seller who has never held political office or stood for election – emerged as the heir apparent until a rebellion by aspirational party colleague O Panneerselvam blocked her ascent.
She skipped Tuesday’s court hearing and instead stayed at a Chennai resort with several dozen legislators over fears her opponents’ camp might try and poach them before her investiture.
The corruption case dates back to the late 1990s, when Jayalalithaa and Sasikala were accused of profiting from the chief minister’s office and acquiring wealth beyond their income.
They were jointly accused of illegally amassing bungalows, luxury cars, tea estates and vast quantities of gold worth the equivalent of $10 million.
Sasikala had spent nearly a month in the same Bangalore prison in 2014 before being let out on bail.
On Thursday, crowds carrying photographs of Jayalalithaa burst fire crackers to celebrate Palanisamy’s appointment.
In signs of trouble still brewing in the ruling party, Panneerselvam vowed to keep fighting for ‘Amma’ or mother as Jayalalithaa was fondly known.
‘We will keep this fight alive. This is my assurance to my brothers and sisters who have stood by me all these days.’
As the VK Sasikala faction of AIADMK emerged victorious with her loyalist EK Palaniswami swearing in as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu, the fate of rebel O Panneerselvam hangs in balance.
While Palaniswami claims the support of majority of the 135 party MLAs, the Panneerselvam camp banks on whatever little support he has of the legislators — both in the Parliament and the Assembly.
The current position of the Panneerselvam has once again become untenable in the roller coaster political developments of the state.
On Thursday, the O Panneerselvam faction of the AIADMK moved the Election Commission challenging the election of V K Sasikala as general secretary of the party, saying she was elevated in violation of the norms.
A 12-member delegation of the faction led by Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan met Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and other top officials, and submitted a memorandum demanding that it decline approval to her elevation to the top party post.
In its 42-page petition, the delegation claimed Sasikala’s election was violative of the party constitution as she was chosen by the general council of the party and not the primary members.
It said the general council was empowered to frame policies and programmes, and not elect someone as general secretary.
Party insiders said that the OPS camp is banking on a positive EC verdict as it would mean that the expulsion of Panneerselvam and his supporters, including MLAs, will be revoked.
This would provide a boost to the rebel camp. The faction, which has refused to accept Sasikala as their leader, also plans to go among the people to gauge their sentiments and try to form an opinion against their rivals.
They will highlight the appointment on key posts of members of Sasikala’s family who had been expelled by Jayalalithaa.
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