State government Natham R Viswanathan’s Assembly leader

Chennai: The state government on Saturdayappointed senior minister and AIADMK heavyweight Natham R. Viswanathan as the leader of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, repacing O. Panneerselvam, who was elevated as Chief Minister last month.

“Viswanathan, who is the minister for electricity, prohibition and excise, is appointed as the leader of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly,” a notification from Assembly secretary A. M. P. Jamaludeen said. The Tamil Nadu Assembly will meet on December 4, for its first session with Panneerselvam as the new Chief Minister.

On September 27, Panneerselvam took over as the Chief Minister of the state, following the conviction of AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case. Viswanathan, a BSc graduate, represents Natham constituency as its MLA in Dindigul district. He is AIADMK party treasurer too.

Meanwhile, both the AIADMK and its arch rival, DMK, are expected to lock horns in the Assembly on December 4 as a heated exchange of statements has already begun between the Dravidian majors. Both parties are in an upbeat mood as they have commenced the election process to  various party posts.