FM Paneerselvam may take over as Tamil Nadu's CM if verdict goes against Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI: As the state awaits a verdict, with bated breath, by the Bangalore special court on Saturday for the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case, an eerie calm prevails at the secretariat in Chennai. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, her aide Sasikala and two others are accused in this case, which is going on for 18 years.

Walk into any office room of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat at Fort St. George, and the only point of conversation is whether the chief minister will return to work as usual on Monday or the state administration will be puppeteered by someone else. While senior government officials say their routine is going by, they hesitated to talk about the verdict and its outcome.

While the MLAs were packing their bags to head for Bangalore, the CM herself was busy launching the `Amma Cement' scheme, aimed at providing subsidised cement for building homes for the middle and low-income groups.

An AIADMK member, on the condition of anonymity , said, “We are all getting ready to leave for Bangalore. But we are only going for celebrating Amma's acquittal. Ministers, MLAs and party functionaries of about 10,000 are heading to Bangalore with packets of fire crackers in hand.'' But analysts feel otherwise. “The only question that AIADMK functionaries are discussing among themselves is ­ jail or bail,“ said political analyst T Sigamani. “The chances of the CM walking free seem to be grim.

Ministers, MLAs and supporters are going there for a show of strength. They plan to stand all along the one km stretch that leads to the makeshift court in Karnataka, to welcome their Amma as she drives in.'' A clear contingency plan, to deal with the outcome, seems to be charted out. If the verdict goes against the CM and there is an immediate disqualification, there will be a smooth transition from a Jayalalithaaled government to a Jayalalithaa-controlled one, said a person who was aware of the arrangement.

“State Finance Minister O Paneerselvam is likely to take up the position as a substitute,“ the person added.“The state administration will function under advisor to the government Sheela Balakrishnan, who will act as Jayalalithaa's point person at the secretariat.'' The police force does not seem to be expecting any major law and order situation in Chennai on the day of the verdict.

While a detailed announcement has been made on security arrangements put in place by the Karnataka police, their Tamil Nadu counterparts didn't say much. However, sources say security has been beefed up at border areas such as Hosur and Krishnagiri, where some tension is anticipated.