Sasikala, the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

On Sunday, AIADMK General Secretary, V.K. Sasikala was selected to be the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state. After O Panneerselvam's resignation, Sasikala was elected as the Leader of the Legislature party by the MLAs in the party head office that is in Chennai.

Sasikala will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on February 9

Post Jayalalithaa's death, there have been numerous speculations regarding Sasikala's position in the party and in December last year, she was elected as the party's General Secretary following Amma's demise.

Later O. Panneerselvam had proposed her name in the MLAs' meeting where she was unanimously elected as the Legislature party leader. He had proposed that he would soon hand over his resignation to the Governor.

The Hindu reported her saying, “It was Panneerselvam who had first persuaded me to become the chief minister and general secretary as well when Jayalalithaa passed away,” Ms. Sasikala told party legislators, after being elected as the legislature party leader.

Sasikala paying her respects to the Late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Picture Credit: Sify.com

Fondly known as chinamma (mother's younger sister) was very close to Jayalalithaa, and after amma's demise, Sasikala was expected to be the to follow her footsteps and lead the people of Tamil Nadu. Although, she has no administrative or political experience, she was coaxed by the party members to lead the government.

Opposition party DMK protested over this election contesting her position. They doubt her skills to lead a state when she has had no such background before.

"She has no experience. Was not even elected, don't know what her policies are. How can she be CM?" said a senior leader of the DMK. (Source: NDTV)

She is to be sworn in as the Chief Minister on February 9, 2017.