O Panneerselvam takes oath as Tamil Nadu deputy CM

Over six months after a bitter split, rival AIADMK factions on Monday merged following a power sharing arrangement under which K Palaniswami will remain the chief minister and O Panneerselvam will be his deputy.

Panneerselvam will also be the AIADMK coordinator while Palaniswami will be the co-coordinator of the ruling party in Tamil Nadu. A cabinet reshuffle will take place, it was announced here after weeks of hard bargaining by factions led by the two leaders who have questioned Sasikala’s appointment as party general secretary.