Is Chinnamma Sasikala Taking Over As Tamil Nadu CM?  

* Key party meeting slated for Sunday.

* Several leaders have already spoken in favour of Sasikala.

* Sasikala recently sought Modi’s support.

* Strong rumours that there could be a change of guard in Chennai

A change of guard seems to be in the offing as a section of ruling AIADMK MLAs are likely to urge Sasikala, a close aide of late Jayalalithaa and popular as Chinnamma, to take over the reins of the government at a meeting to be held on Sunday. The meeting is likely to be held in Chennai on Sunday afternoon.

Following late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's death on December 5 last year, Sasikala was appointed the party General Secretary. Sasikala, 62, had been a close aide of Jayalalithaa for three decades and was always seen as a power centre in AIADMK.

In December last year, four state ministers had asked Sasikala to become the Chief Minister. Lok Sabha deputy speaker Thambidurai had also said that the leadership in both the party and governance should be with the same person, while urging Sasikala to take over as Chief Minister.

In December last year, four state ministers had asked Sasikala to become the Chief Minister, besides AIADMK General Secretary. Lok Sabha deputy speaker Thambidurai had also said that the leadership in both the party and governance should be with the same person, while urging Sasikala to take over as Chief Minister. He had cited the political tussle in Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh to drive home his point that the control of government and party should vest with the same person.

In a sign of asserting her authority, Sasikala had on Friday appointed senior leaders, including some former Ministers and a former Mayor, to key party posts. Former Ministers K A Sengottaiyan, S Gokula Indira and B V Ramana, besides ex-Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy were made the AIADMK's Organisation Secretaries. The appointments also included that of Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar to a key party post. She had also announced removal of Ambattur MLA V Alexander as AIADMK's MGR Youth Wing Secretary.

Following late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s death on December 5 last year, Sasikala was appointed the party General Secretary. Sasikala, 62, had been a close aide of Jayalalithaa for three decades and was always seen as a power centre in AIADMK.

However, the sources did not commit on the agenda of the meeting and declined to confirm reports that the MLAs would urge Sasikala, the AIADMK General Secretary, to take over as Chief Minister. "It is is all your imagination and guess work," a senior leader said when asked about reports of Sasikala taking over from Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.