The legislators unanimously chose Sasikala, who is not a member of the assembly, for the post. And she lost no time in saying that outgoing Chief Minister O Panneerselvam himself wanted her to head the government.
Addressing the legislators, the 59-year old Sasikala, a long-time confidante of Jayalalithaa, said Panneerselvam had also insisted earlier that she become the party head too.
Panneerselvam, who had earlier been acting chief minister twice, sent his resignation to Sasikala, party sources said.
The main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) said it was “shocked” that the AIADMK had chosen an administratively inexperienced Sasikala as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, one of India’s biggest states.
“People didn’t vote for Sasikala,” DMK working president M K Stalin said. The DMK said yesterday was a “black day” for Tamil Nadu.
Sasikala said: “Since everyone stressed that one person should hold both the posts - chief minister and general secretary of the party – I agreed.”
According to AIADMK sources, Panneerselvam proposed her name and the other MLAs seconded it to show unanimity in the party.
Sasikala belongs to the Thevar community, which has a dominant say in the AIADMK.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tamil Nadu president Tamilisai Soundararajan agreed that electing Sasikala was the AIADMK MLAs’ right but wondered what was the urgency.
Born in 1957 in Thiruthuraipoondi, about 330km from Chennai, Sasikala was married to M Natarajan, a Tamil Nadu government official.
In the 1980s, Natarajan urged south Arcot district collector V S Chandralekha to introduce Sasikala to Jayalalithaa so that the then AIADMK propaganda secretary would get due publicity.
With Jayalalithaa finding Sasikala’s work satisfactory, they became friends. After a while, Sasikala moved into the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa in Chennai.
Sasikala used to accompany Jayalalithaa on her trips, often seated behind the charismatic actor-turned-AIADMK leader.
Jayalalithaa publicly called Sasikala a sister not related by blood.
But despite their closeness, Sasikala maintained a low profile publicly although she was actively involved in managing the party affairs.
Their relationship turned sour in 2011 and Jayalalithaa told Sasikala and her family members to leave her residence. But they patched up later, ensuring Sasikala’s return to the AIADMK.
Supporters of Sasikala point out that she assisted Jayalalithaa in the party affairs - and was with her during her tough times.
Earlier yesterday, Panneerselvam and other ministers met Sasikala at the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa where Sasikala continues to live.
Days earlier, Sasikala named to various party posts some ex-ministers and others who had been earlier shunted out by Jayalalithaa.
She also reached out to those seen as a threat to her and placated them before becoming the party general secretary.
Milk and Dairy Development Minister K T Rajenthra Bhalaji said: “Now a brave Tamil woman will be the chief minister. Can’t a Tamil woman become chief minister?”
Tamil Nadu’s first woman Chief Minister was Janaki Ramachandran, the widow of the late M G Ramachandran, the AIADMK founder. She was in office only for a brief period.
She was succeeded by Jayalalithaa, who in May last year led the AIADMK to another victory in assembly elections.
Like Jayalalithaa, Sasikala too has faced corruption charges. The Supreme Court is yet to deliver a ruling in the disproportionate assets case. If it goes against her, it will be a blow to her and the AIADMK.
THE LONG JOURNEY
* There were strong calls for Sasikala to take over as chief minister of Tamil Nadu after she was appointed AIADMK chief following Jayalalithaa’s death in December. The AIADMK contended that it was unwise for the party and government to have different power centres in the state and thus, vociferously demanded her elevation and Panneerselvam’s removal.* While Sasikala has neither been an elected member of the Tamil Nadu assembly nor held any official post in the government, she was considered to be the closest aide of former chief minister Jayalalithaa. She had a considerable say in appointments and in the selection of candidates.
* Jayalalithaa was introduced to Sasikala - a former video store owner - in the 1980s and over the years, she became a permanent presence in the actor-turned-politician’s her life and home. The former chief minister described Sasikala as “the “sister I never had”.
* Her nephew was adopted by the former Tamil Nadu chief minister as a foster son. In 1995, Jayalalithaa was accused of misusing state resources to fund the wedding of Sasikala’s nephew. Sasikala and Jayalalithaa were convicted of corruption by a Bengaluru court in 2014, which was overturned by the high court a year later.
* The friends, however, had a brief falling out in December 2011, after Jayalalithaa expelled Sasikala, her husband and family members from the party for allegedly plotting against her.
* Four months later, Sasikala publicly distanced herself from her family and rejoined Jayalalithaa.
* Following Jayalalithaa’s death on December 5, it was the 61-year-old Sasikala who performed her last rites.
* On December 31, she formally took over as general secretary of the AIADMK, fuelling speculation that she would, eventually, take charge as Tamil Nadu chief minister.
* Speculation of Sasikala taking over as chief minister by the end of January were strong but the massive protests across the state over demanding the removal of the ban on the bull-taming festival of Jallikattu delayed it.
* Sasikala’s takeover has been preceded by a number of changes in the government and the party. Former chief secretary Sheela Balakrishnan, an advisor to the Tamil Nadu government, was relieved off her duties along with other senior bureaucrats. Sasikala also appointed 23 people as office party bearers.