Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Monday accepted the resignation of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, clearing the decks for V.K. Sasikala to take over the top post.
Mr. Panneerselvam had resigned on Sunday citing “personal reasons”. His resignation came after AIADMK chief Sasikala was elected the Legislature Party Leader.
“I hereby accept your resignation and the resignation of your Council of Ministers tendered vide your letter dated February 5, 2017,” Mr. Rao told Mr. Panneerselvam.
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In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister and released by the Raj Bhavan, Mr. Rao also asked Mr. Panneerselvam and his Cabinet to function “until alternative arrangements are made”.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Governor on Sunday, he had said, “Due to my personal reasons, I’m tendering my resignation from the post of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”
“Kindly accept my resignation and relieve the Council of Ministers of Tamil Nadu appointed by me on December 6, 2016,” he said.
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Mr. Panneerselvam was sworn in Chief Minister on December 6 within hours of the death of his predecessor Jayalalithaa.
Incidentally, he had proposed the name of Ms. Sasikala for the top post at the AIADMK MLAs meeting held in the party headquarters in Chennai on Sunday.