Tea Vendor-Turned-Politician O. Panneerselvam Now Full-Fledged Chief Minister Of Tamil Nadu 

Chennai: Ottakkara Panneerselvam, the trusted lieutenant and staunch loyalist of the late J. Jayalalithaa, was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu shortly after Amma declared dead at Tuesday midnight.

Panneerselvam was caretaker chief minister twice earlier when his leader was in crisis and was also entrusted with the CM's portfolios after Jayalalithaa was admitted in hospital on September 22. With her passing, the question is whether the AIADMK will repose the same faith in Ottakkara Panneerselvam, who was in-charge of CM's duties after her hospitalisation.

Finance minister Panneerselvam was sworn in as CM by Governor Ch. 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. The party MLAs arrived at Raj Bhavan around 12.40am for the brief ceremony held in a gloomy atmosphere.

Though Jayalalithaa's long time companion Sashikala competed for the position, the legislature party decided in favor of OPS electing him as Jayalalithaa's successor after day-long deliberations. The Theni strongman was a unanimous chance as TN's eighth CM.

Political Journey Of Panneerselvam

Panneerselvam has come a long way since he caught Jayalalithaa's attention nearly a decade ago when she visited Andipatti constituency in Theni district to file her nomination for an assembly election. A devoted party worker, OPS also faced criticism from his detractors who call him an opportunist.

On that April 2006 day when he pulled out a spotless white handkerchief to wipe the carpet on which Jayalalithaa was to set foot, Panneerselvam earned Puratchi Thalaivi's permanent trust.

Panneerselvam has prostrated at Jayalalithaa's feet, sometimes deified her and also wept for her. He meticulously followed orders, coordinated with bureaucrats and proved himself a mature leader and team player. This may well be why the soft-spoken, unassuming Theni chieftain was made caretaker CM twice - in September 2001 when Jayalalithaa was forced to step down as CM during her trial in a graft case, again in September 2014 when she was convicted by a Karnataka trial court in a disproportionate assets case.

OPS was again given charge of her portfolios, including home and police, besides the task of presiding over cabinet meetings on October 12.

His two terms as caretaker CM were non-controversial and insignificant and the opposition called him a puppet.

They accused him of doing little and merely "following orders from the top". OPS was careful not to sit on the CM's chair, staying in her shadow, making no move that might remotely throw him in the spotlight. In September 2014, he pulled out Jayalalithaa's picture from his pocket, placing it in front of him as he took a tearful oath as CM for the second time.

The tea vendor-turned-politician also won the trust of Sasikalaa, when he managed the LS poll campaign of Sasikalaa's nephew, TTV Dinakaran from Periakulam.

Sasikalaa is likely to steer his political future, as both belonging to the same caste --- Thevar. OPS's climb was rapid. But through his tenures as stand-in CM, he never failed to convey he was only "a temporary arrangement, a glorified office boy".

This February, OPS briefly fell from grace as rumours about 'secret' businesses and the growing clout of his brother O Raja and his elder son Ravindranath Kumar in Theni reportedly reached Jayalalithaa. It reflected in the replacement of his associates holding key posts.

The Theni party unit was rejigged. But his loyalty and caste affiliation earned him a reprieve - he was once again hoisted to the hot seat when Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao handed over Jayalalithaa's portfolios to him.