CHENNAI, India — A former video cassette seller with close ties to Tamil Nadu’s late leader will become the next chief minister of the Indian state, capping a remarkable rise for the political novice.
The ruling party in the southern state announced Sunday that V.K. Sasikala would become the next leader following the resignation of the acting chief minister.
Her rise to the top office had been rumored since December, when beloved leader Jayalalithaa Jayaram died at the age of 68, plunging the state into political uncertainty.
Sasikala — a close confidante of Jayalalithaa but with no previous record of public office — was soon afterwards elevated to head the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party, paving the way to the top job.
“She is the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Like Amma, we wanted a strong woman leader to serve the people,” party spokesperson C. R. Saraswathi told AFP, referring to Jayalalithaa by her popular nickname.
“O Panneerselvam has stepped down from the chief minister’s post and he will continue to work for the party.”
Panneerselvam had been filling in as chief minister since October when former film star Jayalalithaa was hospitalized. — AFP
