O. Panneerselvam is likely to be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu this afternoon. The timing has not been specified yet.

Party sources say that all depends on the filing of the bail application of AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa. Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam has been chosen to be the next Chief Minister after the AIADMK supremo was convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment by a special court in Bangalore on Saturday in a corruption case.

The ruling AIADMK MLAs yesterday elected Panneerselvam as their legislative party leader and staked their claim to form the Government. Panneerselvam, who was chosen by Jayalalithaa in a similar situation in 2001, was unanimously elected as leader of AIADMK Legislature Party in Chennai last evening, a day after Jayalalithaa's conviction and sentencing in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

The objective of the party now is to move the bail plea and cancel the quantum of punishment. The ruling party has a thumping majority in the Assembly and also is the third largest party in the Parliament having 37 members of a total of 39 constituencies in the State.

Meanwhile, the bail petition of Jayalalithaa is likely to be filed before the Karnataka High Court today. The petition could be moved before the vacation bench or before the Chief Justice.

The vacation bench functions only on Tuesday and Thursday. AIR Correspondent adds that if the vacation bench does not take up the matter, then bail petition will be listed only after the vacation on October 7.