Loyal to the core, new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam skips Jayalalithaa's chambers

CHENNAI: Reaffirming his unflinching loyalty to his jailed leader AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, newly sworn in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today chose not to enter the designated chamber for the head of state at the secretariat but function from his erstwhile Minister's office.

Panneerselvam, handpicked by Jayalalithaa to take over the mantle following her conviction in an illegal wealth case, chose to function from the room he occupied as Finance Minister in the previous cabinet, officials said.

He did not assume office at the chamber allotted to the Chief Minister, occupied by Jayalalithaa till her conviction on September 27 by a Bangalore court.

Panneerselvam, who has become chief minister for the second time after 2001 when he was appointed to the post under similar circumstances, turned emotional during the oath taking ceremony earlier in the day and seen wiping tears.

Incidentally, the loyal foot-soldier who rose to become Jayalalithaa's trusted lieutenant, had chosen not to function from the chair occupied by his 'revered' leader while he performed the role of interim Chief Minister for six months in 2001.

Jayalalithaa had then also put him in her place after Supreme Court struck down her appointment by the then Governor Fathima Beevi in the backdrop of her conviction in TANSI land scam case.