Jayalalithaa re-elected as AIADMK legislature party leader, to be sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM on Saturday

Chennai: J Jayalalithaa has been elected as the legislature party leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) paving way for her to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

The decision to re-elect her was taken by all AIADMK MLAs who had gathered at her Poes Garden residence early on Friday morning. She will be sworn in as the Chief Minister on Friday.

Jayalalithaa is later expected to stake claim for forming the government today, with the resignation of incumbent O Panneerselvam being a mere formality.

She will be making her first public appearance after her acquittal by the Karnataka High Court in the disproportionate assets case against her. She will pay a floral tribute to party founder MGR.

Party Treasurer and Chief Minister O Panneeerselvam forwarded the motion to elect her as legislature party leader which was seconded by Electricity Minister Natham R Vishwanathan, the sources said, adding, it was adopted unanimously.

A beaming Cooperative Minister, Sellur K Raju, when asked if Jayalalithaa had been elected as LPP leader, said, "this is the happiest day of our life."

Meanwhile, Supreme Court lawyer GS Mani moved court on Thursday seeking a direction to restrain the AIADMK supremo from being sworn in again as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

The petitioner has contended that the disqualification attracted by Jayalalithaa would not get obliterated unless the apex court decides whether the order of conviction by the trial court or acquittal by the High Court was correct.

Besides this, Mani argued that Jayalalithaa could be administered the oath of the office only if the same was permitted by the apex court or after the expiry of 90-day limitation period for moving the apex court against the High Court order.

It has also been contended that Jayalalithaa could not take advantage of the constitutional provision that permitted any person, without being a legislator, to be sworn in as the chief minister with the proviso of getting elected to the state assembly within a six-month period.