7 reasons Amma loyalist Edappadi Palanisamy is a safe bet for Tamil Nadu

If the Supreme Court's unusually well-timed conviction of AIADMK chief VK Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case has worked in someone's favour, it's Tamil Nadu PWD and state highways minister Edappadi Palanisamy — who is now staking claim to form the government as leader of the legislature party with Chinnamma's blessing.

While rival O Panneerselvam celebrates her conviction — which will essentially keep Sasikala out of active politics for at least six years — he is now facing the eventuality of his junior colleague becoming chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Whether or not the battle of chief ministers ends in Edappadi Palanisamy's victory, he will emerge as the face of the pro-Sasi and more importantly anti-OPS camp in the days to come. Here's what we know about this new player in the fight for Jayalalithaa's political legacy:

1. 62-year-old Edappadi Palanisamy hails from the Salem district of Tamil Nadu and has been elected four times from the Edappadi constituency since his first Assembly contest in 1989.

2. An Amma loyalist and trusted lieutenant of Jayalalithaa since the '80s, when the AIADMK split into two factions.

3. Palanisamy was elected leader of the legislature party whilst OPS, number one in the AIADMK cadre, was expelled by Sasikala during her meeting with party MLAs at the Golden Bay Resorts.

4. Palanisamy, who rose through the ranks due to his successive victories in the Assembly elections, was third in Jayalalithaa's cabinet.

5. Post his 2016 Assembly win, Jayalalithaa gave him the powerful PWD portfolio apart from his existing charge of state highways and minor ports ministry.

6. Belonging to a farmer family from the powerful Gounder caste, Palanisamy is credited with bringing key irrigation projects to his constituency, dominated by farmers.

7. Palanisamy is seen as the safest and most probable bet for the CM post because of his performance in the cabinet as well as his prominent presence at the grassroots level owing to his performance in the elections of 1989, 1991, 2001 and 2016.

If Palanisamy becomes chief minister of Tamil Nadu with the support of 124 MLAs still in the Sasikala camp, he will supersede senior leader O Paneerselvam in the party hierarchy — a huge setback for the two-time CM and rebel AIADMK leader — and possibly redefine politics in the state.

Also read: Thrilling chase of AIADMK's missing MLAs and where we found them