CHENNAI: V.K. Sasikala, a constant presence in the last years of Jayalalithaa's life, is set to become Tamil Nadu chief minister in a stunning takeover that skips the more familiar dynasty path and heralds crony coronation.

Sasikala, officially the AIADMK general secretary, is expected to replace O. Panneerselvam, a Jayalalithaa loyalist whose increasing popularity appears to have hastened his exit.

In a swift move that met with little resistance, Sasikala, 62, was on Sunday unanimously elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party.

Unless an unexpected legal challenge crops up or the Centre puts in a spanner in the works, Sasikala is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday.

Panneerselvam himself made the announcement at a meeting of party MLAs at the AIADMK headquarters. "I now propose Chinnamma Sasikala to be elected the leader of the legislature party and urge all the MLAs to second it," he declared with a smile.

The legislators clapped meekly to register their approval.

Sasikala readily acknowledged Pannerselvam's gesture by recalling that he was the first person who had asked her to take over the leadership of the party and the government after Jayalalithaa's demise on December 5.

"But I was not in a mental condition to do that, so I accepted only the leadership of the party. Now I thank all of you for having elected me as the legislature party leader as well," she told the meeting.

Sasikala's takeover will put an end to the dual leadership the state had witnessed after Jayalalithaa's death. But the political acumen and administrative ability of the middle-school-educated leader have not been tested in any forum so far.

"How does it matter in a party of slaves?" asked former state Congress chief E.V.K.S. Elangovan, who described her election as a "black day".

The swift takeover also became necessary as Panneerselvam was becoming increasingly popular, particularly after he rushed through the law legalising jallikattu. His affable nature had endeared himself to the people used to larger-than-life personalities.

"That Panneerselvam had the blessings of the Centre proved a bigger irritant for Sasikala who is fighting a Fera case and her husband and nephew are being prosecuted for Cofeposa violations by the ED," said DMK spokesperson Saravanan, referring to foreign exchange law cases.

Sasikala might have become chief minister because of a group of subservient MLAs and faces no threat to her leadership but she still has to surmount a few challenges.

She continues to be unpopular among the masses, particularly AIADMK cadres who see Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar as the natural political heir of "Amma". Deepa compared Sasikala's ascension to a "military coup" and declared her readiness to take her on in an election.

Sasikala also needs to live down the image of her family members as law violators.

The second challenge will be for Sasikala to be elected an MLA within six months. Not contesting from Jayalalithaa's constituency R.K. Nagar in Chennai and scouting for a safe seat in the Thevar heartland will show her as weak.

Her performance in the Assembly, where Panneerselvam held his own, will be under close scrutiny too. She will also need to pilot her party to victory in local body polls in April.

Another, and the most important, test will be to gain the moral legitimacy she lacks now. As DMK leader M.K. Stalin said, the mandate of the people was for Jayalalithaa, not even for Panneerselvam, and certainly not for Sasikala.

"Her proximity to Jayalalithaa does not guarantee her the moral right to take over Jayalalithaa's mantle," Stalin said on Sunday.

Stalin also questioned the need to change Panneerselvam when he had been performing reasonably well. The DMK had in the Assembly even wished that Panneerselvam remained chief minister for the next four years and promised co-operation. Sasikala's arrival would see the DMK take a more aggressive posture and try to destabilise the government if and when murmurs of dissent rise against her.

As for Panneerselvam, he has proved himself to be the perennial night watchman of the state, the present two months being the shortest of his three stand-in stints.

-The Telegraph Calcutta