Chennai, Feb 6: Two months after Jayalalitha's demise, her close confidant and aide Sashikala took over as the new Chief Minister of TN and the third woman to do so, from Paneerselvam yesterday after AIADMK MLAs elected her as their new General Secretary with a thumping majority. 

In a move which has clearly sent shock waves down the opposition, she declared herself the new Cheif Minister  by stating that Paneerselvam himself requested her to take over as he had personal issues of his own.  The main opposition DMK said it was "shocked" that the AIADMK had chosen an administratively inexperienced Sasikala as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, one of India's biggest states.
 
"People didn't vote for Sasikala," DMK Working President M.K. Stalin said. The DMK said Sunday was a "black day" for Tamil Nadu. Sasikala said: "Since everyone stressed that one person should hold both the posts – Chief Minister and General Secretary of the party – I agreed."
 
According to AIADMK sources, Panneerselvam proposed her name and the other MLAs seconded it to show unanimity in the party. Sasikala belongs to the Thevar community, which has a dominant say in the AIADMK.
 
Bharatiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu President Tamilisai Soundararajan agreed that electing Sasikala was the AIADMK MLAs' right but wondered what was the urgency.
 
Earlier on Sunday, Panneerselvam and other ministers met Sasikala at the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa where Sasikala continues to live. Days earlier, Sasikala named to various party posts some ex-ministers and others who had been earlier shunted out by Jayalalithaa.
 
She also reached out to those seen as a threat to her and placated them before becoming the party General Secretary. Milk and Dairy Development Minister K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji said: "Now a brave Tamil woman will be the Chief Minister. Can't a Tamil woman become Chief Minister?"
 
Tamil Nadu's first woman Chief Minister was Janaki Ramachandran, the widow of the late M.G. Ramachandran, the AIADMK founder. She was in office only for a brief period.
 
She was succeeded by Jayalalithaa, who in May last year led the AIADMK to another victory in assembly elections. Like Jayalalithaa, Sasikala too has faced corruption charges. The Supreme Court is yet to deliver a ruling in the disproportionate assets case. If it goes against her, it will be a blow to her and the AIADMK.