VK Sasikala's husband Natarajan hospitalised hours after her elevation

His blood pressure shot up and he was rushed to the Apollo Hospital on Greams road close to 9 pm.

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AIADMK Chief VK Sasikala's husband M Natarajan was hospitalised in Chennai on Sunday night with complaints of breathing problems, according to media reports.

According to sources, his blood pressure shot up and he was rushed to the Apollo Hospital on Greams road close to 9 pm. His condition has reportedly improved but he continues to remain under observation.

Natarajan's hospitalisation comes on the same day VK Sasikala was chosen by party MLAs as the leader of the legislative party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, thereby making way for her to become the CM. O Paneerselvam, who had taken over the reins following Jayalalithaa's death, has also tendered his resignation citing 'personal reasons'.

Natarajan, who joined the AIADMK when MGR was alive, was banished by Jayalalithaa from all centres of power and her Poes Garden residence.

Days after the former Chief Minister's death, Natarajan publicly claimed that even an ordinary person can take the party forward. His words further fueled speculation that the ‘Mannargudi cartel’, as the coterie around Sasikala was called, would take control of the party.

Two months since, AIADMK MLAs have unanimously decided that VK Sasikala must take over as the Chief Minister of the State. The show of strength at the party headquarters, where most ministers and MLAs gathered on Sunday, making it clear that there was little room for dissent.

The main opposition, DMK has however questioned the AIADMK'S decision to make a leader accused in a corruption case as the Chief Minister of the state. DMK working Stalin further claimed that people's vote was for Jayalalithaa, not members of her household. Other opposition parties in the state have echoed Stalin's sentiments.

The AIADMK however remains unperturbed by the multiple questions. Sasikala, will next meet Governor Vidyasagar Rao to stake claim to forming the Government and is expected to be sworn in before February 9. This would make her the third lady chief minister of Tamil Nadu.