Tamil Nadu politics is not going to change too much, especially with respect to its stance on Sri Lanka, as a staunch Jayalalithaa loyalist has succeeded her as Chief Minister of the state.

O. Paneerselvam, or OPS as he is popularly known in Tamil Nadu, kept the CM's seat warm for Jayalalithaa once before a decade ago. He served as interim chief minister when Jayalalithha was jailed in another corruption case. In September 2001, the actor-turned-politician made senior minister Panneerselvam the chief minister when she was barred from holding office. Jayalalithaa returned to her post in March 2002.

Paneerselvam, who was born on January 1951, owned agricultural lands and a tea shop before he became the chairman of Periakulam municipality in 1996. In 2001, he contested MLA election from Periakulam and became the Public Works Department minister. Later, he also became a chief minister after Jayalalithaa lost a corruption case. He was criticised during his chief minister's days (Sep 2001-March 2002) for heading a puppet government, with Jayalalithaa micromanaging the government.

Paneerselvam has also been the leader of the AIADMK legislative party and the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for about two weeks, after the party lost the assembly elections in May 2006. He has been twice elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly from Periakulam constituency. He was the Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu Cabinet under Jayalalithaa from 2011.

(with inputs from India Today)