It is to be noted that Jayalalithaa had twice handpicked OPS to be her successor. However, when Jayalaithaa’s aide VK Sasikala briefly took over the party, EPS became the CM. Later Sasikala was ousted from the party when EPS and OPS joined hands.
Pannerselvam seemed to have lost support as a group of his supporters including several former ministers, district secretaries, headquarters functionaries, and members of the general council shifted their loyalties to Palaniswami.
“Over 75 district secretaries have met Palaniswami and pledged their support to him,” said D Jayakumar, former Minister and AIADMK senior politician to reporters.
