Jayalalithaa unanimously re-elected AIADMK legislature party leader

She's going to take over as Tamil Nadu CM tomorrow

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader J Jayalalithaa was today elected by her party MLAs as the leader of legislature party. Tomorrow afternoon, she'll be taking charge as the Chief Minsiter of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time.

The meeting started at 7 a.m. at the Party's Headquarters in Chennai and lasted a mere 10 minutes before the decision was made. Current Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was among the people who reached the meeting at the earliest. Today he from that position as well as from the post of AIADMK's leader of legislature party. Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah has invited Jayalalithaa to form a Cabinet of Ministers; the former CM is expected to him at 1:30 p.m. today. He also asked Jayalalithaa to send the list of persons to be appointed as ministers with their portfolios.

She lost her CM position last year after a Special Court in Karnataka convicted her on a disproportionate assets case and sentenced her for four years jail imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 100 crore.

On September 27, 2014, she was taken into custody for almost three weeks she was in jail. While she later got a bail on strict conditions, she wasn't seen in public space at all.

She was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court on May 11, after which her return to the government was a foregone conclusion. However, she restrained herself from public appearance even after that.

Later today she's expected to come out to pay floral tributes to the late Chief Ministers C N Annadurai and M G Ramachandran along with founder of Dravidian movement, Periyar E V Ramasamy.

A festive atmosphere has already taken over Chennai roads with huge banners welcoming her back.