The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday night and the Apollo Hospitals on Monday said that her condition continues to be very "critical."
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief has been in the hospital for over two months for "respiratory infection" and her condition does not seem to be improving. The politician was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai on September 22, 2016 after she complained of fever and dehydration. After a couple of weeks, the Apollo Hospitals on October 2 said that she was being treated for "infection" and was "responding well to treatment". However, things took a turn for the worse when authorities on October 10 said that she was under "respiratory support."
In such a situation, the AIDMK party is considering Jayalalithaa's successor to replace her and take over as the party's chief and the state's chief minister. Here's a list of possible candidates who can succeed Amma:
O Paneerselvam
A month after the Tamil Nadu CM was hospitalised, the state governor allocated all her portfolios to the state Finance Minister O Panneerselvam. He is a likely successor for the position of CM and is a trusted aide of the AIDMK supremo. Panneerselvam has assumed the position of the state Chief Minister on two separate occasions: from 2001 to 2002 and again in 2014 to 2015. He was entrusted with the responsibility of being the 17th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on September 29, 2014 when Jayalalithaa was convicted in the disproportionate assets case.
Munisamy Thambidurai
Munisamy Thambidurai, one of the leading members of the AIADMK party, is also a possible candidate to succeed Jayalalitha. Thambidurai is the current Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha and has served as the Cabinet Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs. He was also the Minister of State of Surface Transport from March 1998 to April 1999. Thambidurai has been serving as AIADMK party leader in Lok Sabha since 2009.
K Palanisamy
K. Palanisamy, a member of the AIADMK party, is currently the Minister for Highways and Minor Ports in the Tamil Nadu government. Reports state that Palanisamy is also being considered for the party chief's position. He is also the sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Edapadi in Tamil Nadu. Palanisamy has won the election to the state assembly four times, in 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016.
Sasikala Natarajan
Saiskala Natarajan is a close confidante of Jayalalithaa and could be her successor in the party too. Sasikala has been embroiled in controversies and has allegedly abused her position of power behind the scenes. She was convicted along with the Tamil Nadu CM in 1996 for being involved in the infamous multi-crore Colour TV scam.
