Tamil Nadu's new CM, colleagues break down during swearing-in

O Panneerselvam took over as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu on Monday, two days after All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief J Jayalalithaa was forced to step down after being convicted in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

A loyal aide of Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam broke down while being administered oath by Governor Konijeti Rosaiah in the Raj Bhawan. Thirty two ministers were once again sworn in along with the new CM; many of them were in tears during the ceremony.

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This is the second occasion when Panneerselvam has served as a replacement for his boss. The 63-year-old was chosen by Jayalalithaa to fill her shoes in a similar situation in 2001 when the Supreme Court struck down her appointment as CM by the then governor Fathima Beevi following her conviction in TANSI land case.

The soft spoken and suave leader literally functioned as "interim-chief minister" for about six months and duly vacated the post after Jayalalithaa was acquitted in the case.

Described as 'Mr Faithful', Panneerselvam belongs to the dominant Mudukulathor community.

The name of Panneerselvam was understood to have communicated by Jayalalithaa in the court itself after the verdict was pronounced on Saturday. She also had a long conversation with him in the court before she was lodged in the Bangalore jail.

Panneerselvam had submitted the letter to the governor following which the latter invited him to form a ministry.

Image: A Jaya loyalist, O Panneerselvam gets emotional during the oath-taking ceremony in Chennai