Post-Jaya era: CM to chair first Cabinet meeting today

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Pannerselvam, who assumed the top office after the passing away of incumbent and ruling AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa days ago, will chair the first meeting of his cabinet here on Saturday at the state secretariat.

The meeting is set to begin at 11.30 am when a resolution was expected to be adopted condoling the demise of the four-time chief minister Jayalalithaa on December 5, party sources said.

“Tamil Nadu Cabinet meeting on Saturday at 11.30 am. Honourable Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to chair the meet,” AIADMK said in a tweet on Friday.

Jayalalithaa, 68, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Apollo Hospitals while undergoing treatment for ailments since Sept 22.

The cabinet meeting comes against the backdrop of the allegation of main opposition DMK in the past more than two months that the government was “non-functional”

PMK had on Dec 7 said that the government administration which was in a “limbo” in recent past should “start functioning now” with Panneerselvam at the helm.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, his Cabinet colleagues and Sasikala paid homage at the burial site of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa here even as silent marches and prayers continued to be held for the fourth day on Friday across the state to condole the passing away of the former chief minister.

In a surprise visit, Chief Minister Panneerselvam along with his Cabinet colleagues including Dindigul C Sreenivasan, Edappadi K Palanisamy, SP Velumani, and P Thangamani arrived at the burial site in the evening and paid floral tributes to Jayalalithaa.

Panneerselvam held discussions with officials over the arrangements in place for people to comfortably pay homage to the departed leader.