CM Panneerselvam retains old cabinet
30 Sept 2014 5:33 AM IST
An emotional Panneerselvam broke into tears as he was sworn-in as chief minister by Governor K Rosaiah at the Raj Bhavan. Even when Rosaiah extended customary greetings after the oath taking ceremony, Panneerselvam appeared deeply distressed and the Governor was seen comforting him. A sombre mood prevailed as the newly sworn in ministers of the crisis-ridden AIADMK appeared grim.
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 and a few other AIADMK leaders met Jayalalithaa in the Bangalore Central Jail earlier Sunday.
He entered politics in 1996 and became the head of a local body. In 2001, he was elected to the assembly from Periakulam and became the minister for public works department. He become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 2001 in similar circumstances.
He was also leader of the opposition when the AIADMK was voted out in 2006. Panneerselvam retained all 30 other ministers appointed by his predecessor Jayalalithaa, with all of them retaining the same portfolios earlier allocated by the AIADMK supremo.
The media was not invited for coverage of the swearing-in ceremony and no invitations reached the opposition parties. According to sources, a top government official extended an invitation over telephone to Madras High Court Chief Justice SK Kaul requesting his presence at the function. ‘It was a mournful swearing-in ceremony. When Amma is behind bars, nobody expects us to celebrate,’ said an party MLA. After the ceremony, the governor could be seen comforting Panneerselvam.
Those who know the new chief minister describe him as a god-fearing man who prays almost every day. Though he was labelled a rubber stamp CM in 2001, he is known for his patience and friendly behaviour towards MLAs from his own parts, as well as the opposition.
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 and a few other AIADMK leaders met Jayalalithaa in the Bangalore Central Jail earlier Sunday.
He entered politics in 1996 and became the head of a local body. In 2001, he was elected to the assembly from Periakulam and became the minister for public works department. He become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 2001 in similar circumstances.
He was also leader of the opposition when the AIADMK was voted out in 2006. Panneerselvam retained all 30 other ministers appointed by his predecessor Jayalalithaa, with all of them retaining the same portfolios earlier allocated by the AIADMK supremo.
The media was not invited for coverage of the swearing-in ceremony and no invitations reached the opposition parties. According to sources, a top government official extended an invitation over telephone to Madras High Court Chief Justice SK Kaul requesting his presence at the function. ‘It was a mournful swearing-in ceremony. When Amma is behind bars, nobody expects us to celebrate,’ said an party MLA. After the ceremony, the governor could be seen comforting Panneerselvam.
Those who know the new chief minister describe him as a god-fearing man who prays almost every day. Though he was labelled a rubber stamp CM in 2001, he is known for his patience and friendly behaviour towards MLAs from his own parts, as well as the opposition.
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