CHENNAI: O Panneerselvam addressed the Tamil Nadu Cabinet Meet last week in the absence of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who is currently undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals. The CM however, remained present in essence as a big sized photograph of her remained right in front on the table.
Finance Minister, and Amma-loyalist Panneerselvam took over all portfolios held by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa following the latter's ill-health. The move came after a lot of speculations concerning Jaya's health condition. Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao allocated the portfolios held by her to the minister, but said the AIADMK leader will continue to be the CM.
"The meeting started at 9:30 am and ended at 10:30 am. Panneerselvam with a big picture of Jayalalithaa in front of him chaired the meeting," said a secretariat official. The Cauvery issue is said to have dominated the meet, which also discussed appointment of special officers in local bodies as the term of councillors and mayors ends on October 24. "It is likely that an ordinance will be promulgated on appointment of special officers in a few days," an official said. The meeting also discussed land allotment to investors who signed memoranda of understanding with the government during the Global Investors Meet in September last year.
This isn't the first time Panneerselvam took over all portfolios held by the CM. He temporarily took over in September 2001 when he was the interim CM for six months when Jaya was disqualified by the SC in the Tansi land deal case. The second time in September 2014, after a Bangalore court sentenced Jaya to four years in jail and fined Rs 100 Crore in corruption case.
