Jayalalithaa loyalist and Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O Panneerselvam was today chosen to be the next chief minister after the AIADMK supremo was convicted and sent to jail for four years in a corruption case. Panneerselvam, who was chosen by Jayalalithaa in a similar situation in 2001,was unanimously elected as leader of AIADMK Legislature Party in Chennai, a day after her conviction and sentencing in the 66.65 crore rupees disproportionate assets case.

Party sources said the ruling party MLAs will meet Governor K Rosaiah to communicate him the decision. Jayalalithaa also had a long conversation with Panneerselvam in the court before she was lodged in Bangalore jail.

Panneerselvam was choosen by Jayalalithaa in 2001 when Supreme Court struck down her appointment as Chief Minister by the then Governor Fathima Beevi following her conviction in Tansi land case. He functioned as interm-chief minister for about six months and duly vacated the post after Jayalalithaa was acquitted in the case.

Hundreds of AIADMK workers gathered at the Party headquarters and raised slogans against DMK Chief Mr.Karunanidhi. Many women started wailing as their favourite leader AMMA was not there. Women party workers also squatted in front of former Chief Minister MGR's cemetry with eyes blind folded and raised slogans against Karunanidhi and Subramanian Swamy.

Meanwhile, lawyers for jailed AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa will move the Karnataka High Court tomorrow for bail for her while they were also finalising a strategy for seeking a stay on her conviction and sentence in the disproportionate assets case.

B Kumar, Senior Counsel for Jayalalithaa told PTI today that they will file a bail application tomorrow in Karnataka High Court. He said since the sentencing was for a period more than three years, only the high court can grant bail in Jayalalithaa's case.