As Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa has been advised a “longer stay” at the hospital, AIADMK functionaries are contemplating a stand-in leadership to hold the reins of the government. The two options are either handing over her portfolios to senior ministers or have an alternative chief minister like Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam .
On the day when the acting governor C Vidyasagar Rao met Palaniswami and Panneerselvam at Raj Bhavan, a statement said the governor discussed issues relating to general administration. Chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao briefed the governor about the functions being carried out on a day-to-day basis. After meeting the governor, the ministers dropped in at Apollo hospital where their cabinet colleagues had gathered.
Panneerselvam has been the acting CM on two occasions in 2001 and 2014, when Jayalalithaa had to vacate the post owing to legal impediments while Palaniswami has also been a long time party functionary and minister who enjoys her support.