O. Panneerselvam

O Panneerselvam
Minister of Finance & Public Works Department of Tamil Nadu
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 May 2015
In office 16 May 2011 – 27 September 2014
13th & 17th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
In office 29 September 2014 – 22 May 2015
Preceded by	J Jayalalithaa
Succeeded by	J Jayalalithaa
Constituency	Bodinayakkanur
In office 21 September 2001 – 1 March 2002
Preceded by	J Jayalalithaa
Succeeded by	J Jayalalithaa
Constituency	Periyakulam
Minister of Revenue & Public Works Department of Tamil Nadu
In office 2 March 2002 – 12 May 2006
In office 12 May 2001 – 1 September 2001
Personal details
Born	January 1951 (64 Years) Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu
Political party	All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Spouse	P. Vijayalakshmi
Children	Three Children
Parent	Ottakara Thevar (father)
Residence(s)	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

O Panneerselvam trusted aide of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, born January 1951, is the Ex-Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India. O Panneerselvam was the first CM of Tamil Nadu who belonged to the Thevar community, which is one of the largest and loyal vote banks of the AIADMK. He is very approachable and soft spoken. He does not carry any airs despite being a senior minister in the government," a Tamil Nadu lawmaker from an opposition party had told IANS.

Personal life

The former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was born on 14 January 1951 in Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu. He started his career as a tea stall owner. He also owned some agricultural land. He is married to P. Vijayalakshmi and the couple is blessed with three children. He is currently elected from the constituency of Bodinayakkanur which is located in Theni district.

Political career

Early political career

He started his political career by becoming the chairman of Periyakulam Municipality in 1996 and fulfilled his responsibilities till 2001. It was in 2001 that he contested as an AIADMK candidate from the Periyakulam Assembly constituency and won.A staunch J Jayalalithaa loyalist, he became the Revenue Minister in her government and held the office from 19 May 2001 to 1 September 2001.

First term as Chief Minister, 2001-2002

He was sworn in as the 13 th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in September 2001 when the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was barred from holding office by the Supreme Court of India. During his stint as Chief Minister, he was widely criticised of heading a puppet government closely micro-managed by J Jayalalithaa.The tenure lasted for six months, from 21 September 2001 to 1 March 2002. In March 2002, he resigned as Chief Minister and J Jayalalithaa was sworn in after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction and she won a by-election from Andipatti assembly constituency. From 2 March 2002 to 13 December 2002, he was the Minister for Public Works, Prohibition and Excise. Subsequently, he was also entrusted with the Revenue department’s charge from 13 December 2002 to 2006.

Leader of the Opposition , 2006

After the party lost the assembly elections in May 2006, Panneerselvam was the leader of the AIADMK legislative party and the Leader of the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for about two weeks. In that election, he was elected to be the member of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly from Periyakulam. After all the AIADMK legislators were suspended by the speaker of the house, J Jayalalithaa who had decided not to attend the Legislative Assembly decided to return and replaced Panneerselvam as the Leader of the Opposition.

Second term as Chief Minister, 2014-2015

It was in 2011 that he contested as an AIADMK candidate from the Bodinayakkanur Assembly constituency and won. Again, he became the Finance Minister in J Jayalalithaa government and held the office from 16 May 2011 to 27 Sep 2014. He was again entrusted with the responsibility of being the 17 th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 29 September 2014 when Jayalalitha was convicted in the disproportionate assets case. On May 22 2015 , he resigned as Chief Minister and J Jayalalithaa was sworn in after the Karnataka High Court acquitted her from disproportionate case on 11 May 2015. On 23 May 2015 , he sworn in as Minister for Finance & Public Works Departments of Tamil Nadu in J Jayalalithaa government.