O Panneerselvam takes oath as CM Tamil Nadu, break down at swearing in

Bangalore: Jayalalithaa loyalist O Panneerselvam was on Monday sworn-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, succeeding his party supremo two days after her conviction in an illegal assets case.

An emotional Panneerselvam was seen wiping his eyes as he was sworn-in as Chief Minister by Governor K Rosaiah at the Raj Bhavan.

The new Chief Minister’s cabinet was also sworn-in by the Governor.

Government officials had feigned ignorance since morning when journalists of various establishments contacted them for information about the swearing-in ceremony.

63-year-old Panneerselvam, who is the AIADMK Treasurer, was unanimously elected as Leader of AIADMK Party Legislature on Sunday following Jayalalithaa’s conviction and subsequent disqualification as MLA following her four year prison term awarded by the Bangalore Special Court in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

Panneerselvam had submitted the letter to the Governor later following which the latter invited him to form a Ministry led by him.