O. Panneerselvam

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia


O. Panneerselvam
O. Panneerselvam.jpg
Panneerselvam in 2017
5th Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
14 June 2021 – Incumbent
LeaderEdappadi K. Palaniswami
Preceded byDurai Murugan
ConstituencyBodinayakkanur
In office
29 May 2006 – 14 May 2011
LeaderJ. Jayalalithaa
Preceded byK. A. Sengottaiyan
Succeeded byPanruti S. Ramachandran
ConstituencyBodinayakkanur
2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
In office
21 August 2017 – 6 May 2021
GovernorC. Vidyasagar Rao
(Addit. charge)
Banwarilal Purohit
Chief MinisterEdappadi K. Palaniswami
Preceded byM. K. Stalin
6th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
In office
6 December 2016 – 15 February 2017
GovernorC. Vidyasagar Rao
(Addit. charge)
Preceded byJ. Jayalalithaa
Succeeded byEdappadi K. Palaniswami
In office
28 September 2014 – 23 May 2015
GovernorKonijeti Rosaiah
Preceded byJ. Jayalalithaa
Succeeded byJ. Jayalalithaa
In office
21 September 2001 – 2 March 2002
GovernorC. Rangarajan
(Addit. charge)
P. S. Ramamohan Rao
Preceded byJ. Jayalalithaa
Succeeded byJ. Jayalalithaa
Acting Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
In office
12 October 2016 – 5 December 2016
GovernorC. Vidyasagar Rao
(Addit. charge)
Chief MinisterJ. Jayalalithaa
16th Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
19 May 2006 – 28 May 2006
DeputyK. A. Sengottaiyan
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Preceded byK. Anbazhagan
Succeeded byJ. Jayalalithaa
Minister of Finance in The Government of Tamil Nadu
In office
21 August 2017 – 6 May 2021
Chief MinisterEdappadi K. Palaniswami
Preceded byD. Jayakumar
Succeeded byPalanivel Thiagarajan
In office
16 May 2011 – 15 February 2017
Chief Minister
Preceded byK. Anbazhagan
Succeeded byD. Jayakumar
Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
16 May 2011
Preceded byS. Lakshmanan
ConstituencyBodinayakkanur
In office
14 May 2001 – 15 May 2011
Preceded byL. Mookiah
Succeeded byA. Laser
ConstituencyPeriyakulam
Coordinator of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
21 August 2017 – 23 June 2022[1]
Deputy
Joint CoordinatorEdappadi K. Palaniswami
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Treasurer of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Assumed office
21 August 2017
CoordinatorHimself
Preceded byC. Sreenivasan
In office
28 August 2007 – 14 February 2017
General Secretary
Preceded byT. T. V. Dhinakaran
Succeeded byC. Sreenivasan
Personal details
Born (1951-01-14) 14 January 1951 (age 73)[2]
Periyakulam, Madras State (present-day Theni District, Tamil Nadu, India)
Political partyFile:AIADMK Official Flag.png All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1973–present)
Spouse(s)P. Vijayalakshmi (dead 2021)[3]
Children3 including P. Raveendranath Kumar[4]
Parents
  • Ottakkara Thevar (father)
  • Palaniammal Nachiar (mother)
Residence
EducationB.A.
Alma materHajee Karutha Rowther Howdia College
AwardsInternational Rising Star of the Year-Asia (2019)
Nickname(s)O.P.S.,Periyakullathar

Ottakarathevar Panneerselvam Popularly Known as O.P.S.(born 14 January 1951)[2] is an Indian politician who served as the 6th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for 3 terms from 2001 -2002 , 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 and the 2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 21 August 2017 to 6 May 2021 , one time served as the acting Chief Minister. He is currently the party Treasurer of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam since 28 August 2007.[1]

He is a senior leader of the AIADMK political party and was a staunch aide of former chief minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalithaa. His first two terms as Chief Minister came when he replaced Jayalalithaa in the role, after she was forced to resign by the courts. His third term began following Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's death and ended two months later, Edappadi K. Palaniswami was selected as the Chief Minister.[5][6] He was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 21 August 2017. He also holds portfolios of Finance, Housing, Rural Housing, Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development, and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.[7] On 4 January 2018, O. Panneerselvam elected as Leader of the House in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Personal life[edit]

Panneerselvam was born on 14 January 1951 in Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haji Karutha Rowther Howdia College in Uthamapalayam, Theni district. His close friend Salavuddin from Tenali encouraged him into politics. He also owned some agricultural land. He is married to P. Vijayalakshmi and the couple have three children. He is currently elected from the constituency of Bodinayakkanur, in Theni district. [8] His wife died on 1 September 2021 due to a heart attack. [9]

Political career[edit]

Early political career[edit]

Paneerselvam started his political career periyakulam as a worker of the AIADMK in 1973 after M. G. Ramachandran split from the DMK. He was Chairman of Periyakulam Municipality from 1996 to 2001.

Panneerselvam with Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in 2017

First term as Chief Minister, 2001-2002[edit]

He was sworn in as the 6th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in September 2001 when the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was barred from holding office by the Supreme Court of India. During his stint as Chief Minister, he was widely criticised for allegedly heading a puppet government managed by Jayalalithaa. His tenure lasted for six months, from 21 September 2001 to 1 March 2002. In March 2002, he resigned as Chief Minister and Jayalalithaa was sworn in again after the Madras high Court overturned her conviction and she won a by-election from Andipatti assembly constituency. From 2 March 2002 to 13 December 2003, he was the Minister for Public Works, Prohibition and Excise. Subsequently, he was also entrusted with the Revenue department's charge from 13 December 2003 to May 15 2006.

Leader of the Opposition, 2006[edit]

After the party lost the assembly elections in May 2006, Panneerselvam was the leader of the AIADMK legislative party and the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for about nine days. In that election, he was elected to be the member of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly from Periyakulam.

First Term as Deputy Leader of Opposition, 2006[edit]

After Jayalalithaa, Replaced Panneerselvam And He Sworn As Deputy Leader of Opposition.

Second term as Chief Minister, 2014-2015[edit]

In 2011, he contested as an AIADMK candidate from the Bodinayakkanur and won. Again, he became the Minister of Finance in Jayalalithaa's government and held the office from 16 May 2011 to 27 September 2014. He was again entrusted with the responsibility of being Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 29 September 2014 when Jayalalitha was convicted in the disproportionate assets case. On 22 May 2015, he resigned as Chief Minister and Jayalalithaa was sworn in again after the Karnataka High Court acquitted her in the disproportionate assets case on 11 May 2015.[10][11]

A year after his resignation, on 23 May 2016, he was sworn in as Minister for Finance and Public Works Department in Jayalalithaa's government.

Third term as Chief Minister, 2016-2017[edit]

On 6 December 2016, Panneerselvam was elected as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu following the death of incumbent Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.[12] On 10 December he held his first cabinet meeting as a full-term Chief Minister..[13] He tended his resignation as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 6 February 2017 to the governor, who accepted and appointed him as the caretaker Chief Minister of the state to avoid a leadership vacuum, until further measures could be taken.[citation needed].

On 14 February 2017, he was expelled from the AIADMK by party general-secretary, V. K. Sasikala. Shortly after his expulsion, the Governor invited the newly elected legislative leader of the AIADMK, Edappadi K Palaniswami to form the government, following which he took over as chief minister on 16 February 2017.[14]

First Term as Deputy Chief Minister, 2017-2021[edit]

On 21 August 2017, Panneerselvam took oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on the same day of the Party Merger with then Chief Minister EPS faction.[15]

Second Term as Deputy Leader of Opposition, 2021[edit]

After the party lost the assembly elections in May 2021, Panneerselvam won the Bodinayakkanur constituency and was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly On 14 June 2021.[16]

Leadership Tussle with Edappadi K. Palaniswami[edit]

On 14 June 2022, Citing the party's troubles in the polls, AIADMK district secretaries and other senior party members spoke out to shun the “dual leadership” system and came out publicly in favor of strong unitary leader to strengthen the organisation.

Edappadi K. Palaniswami supporters pushed for the change in the party's leadership structure by staging a political coup against AIADMK Coordinator O. Panneerselvam, who had become weak within the party. According to many sources, of the AIADMK’s 75 district secretaries, hardly 10 supported him. Of the party’s 66 MLAs, only five MLAs were reportedly on O. Panneerselvam side and less than 20 percent of the party’s general council members behind him ahead of crucial general council meeting on 23 June 2022, which was expected to elect the single leadership to the party.[17][18][19]

On 30 June 2022, Edappadi K. Palaniswami wrote a letter to O. Panneerselvam asserting the latter ceased to be the party coordinator as the amendments made to the party’s bylaw in the 2020 December executive committee meeting were not recognised in the general council meeting held on June 23.[1][20]

Controversy[edit]

A report in The Week magazine on December 2017, alleged that Panneerselvam was on the sand mining baron Sekhar Reddy's payroll.[21] Reddy was arrested by the Income Tax department in March 2017 on money laundering charges. Five pages of the Reddy's Diary suggest alleged payments made to several AIADMK ministers, MLAs, and many others, amounting to more than ₹ 48 crore. At least five payments in which the word 'OPS' or the name of his secretary Ramesh was written are shown in the contents of the diary.[22][23]

Elections contested[edit]

Tamil Nadu Legislative elections[edit]

Elections Constituency Party Result Vote percentage Opposition Candidate Opposition Party Opposition vote percentage
2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Periyakulam AIADMK Won 54.28 M. Abuthahir DMK 38.62
2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Periyakulam AIADMK Won 49.81 L. Mookiah DMK 39.00
2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Bodinayakkanur AIADMK Won 56.69 S. Lakshmanan DMK 38.89
2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Bodinayakkanur AIADMK Won 49.38 S. Lakshmanan DMK 41.63
2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Bodinayakkanur AIADMK Won 46.58 Thanga Tamil Selvan DMK 41.45

New Party Symbol[edit]

After his exit from AIADMK Panneerselvam and his supporters appealed to the election commission to take action against the party General Secretary VKS and chief minister EPS .He also made a point to them that he needs the two leaf party symbol to contest in RK Nagar election. Also, Edappadi K. Palaniswami and supporters appealed against him, but the election commission rejected both the appeals and allotted two different symbols to each party.[24]

In August 2017 Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam Faction merged. He was made Deputy Chief Minister and was also given finance Ministry.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Tamil Nadu: Indicating OPS is no longer AIADMK coordinator, EPS says his letter on local body polls invalid". indianexpress. 30 June 2022.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Thiru O. Panneerselvam Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister". Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  3. "Sasikala meets Panneerselvam, condoles his wife's death by holding his hands". The Times of India. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  4. Akshaya Nath (1 September 2021). "AIADMK leader Panneerselvam's wife Vijayalakshmi passes away after heart attack". India Today. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  5. "E Palaniswami is new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, 30 other AIADMK leaders take oath at Raj Bhavan". Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  6. "Palaniswami takes oath as CM, OPS says will fight for justice". Hindustan Times. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  7. "AIADMK merger: Panneerselvam is Deputy CM, gets finance portfolio". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 21 August 2017.
  8. "O. Panneerselvam Biography - About family, political life, awards won, history". Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  9. "Former Tamilnadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's wife passes away". Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  10. "DA case Live: Jayalalithaa walks out of prison, gets rousing welcome in Chennai". 18 October 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  11. "TN CM O Panneerselvam resigns, makes way for Jayalalithaa to take over - Times of India". Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  12. "Its official: AIADMK leaders choose O Panneerselvam as Jayalalithaas successor". Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  13. "O Panneerselvam holds first cabinet meeting after Jayalalithaa's demise". India.com. 10 December 2016.
  14. "AIADMK sacks Panneerselvam, 19 other rebel leaders from party - Times of India". Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  15. "AIADMK Unites, OPS Takes Oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu". india.com. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  16. "OPS to be deputy opposition leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly". thenewsminute. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  17. "Tamil Nadu: Can united front of the AIADMK survive?". The Times of India. 20 June 2022.
  18. "EPS vs OPS: AIADMK grapples with internecine struggle for party control". The New Indian Express. 19 June 2022.
  19. "More voices emerge in favour of unitary leadership in AIADMK". The Hindu. 19 June 2022.
  20. "You are no longer AIADMK coordinator, EPS tells OPS". hindustantimes. 1 July 2022.
  21. "O Panneerselvam Dodges Corruption Charge As Report Triggers New Row". NDTV.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  22. "Sekar Reddy's 'secret diary': Were OPS, other ministers on mining baron's payroll?". The News Minute. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  23. "Money, and the man?". The Week. 17 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. "Blow to AIADMK: 'Two leaves' symbol frozen by Election Commission". deccanchronicle.com/. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
J. Jayalalithaa
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
First tenure

2001–2002
Succeeded by
J. Jayalalithaa
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Second tenure

2014–2015
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Third tenure

6 December 2016 – 16 February 2017
Succeeded by
Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Preceded by
M. K. Stalin
Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
21 August 2017 — 6 May 2021
Succeeded by
Vacant

Template:Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (2011–2016)