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.

Our correspondent quoting official sources said that the State Governor has invited Mr. Panneerselvam to form the Ministry. A Raj Bhavan press release stated that Mr. Panneerselvam has submitted a letter and the resolution passed by the AIADMK legislators electing him as the leader of the AIADMK legislature party. The swearing in is likely to happen tomorrow.

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.

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.