The AIADMK Legislative Board has unanimously nominated Dr Manmohan Singh as the new Tamil Nadu CM following Amma’s conviction in the so called disproportionate assets case. “Some other names like a chap called Paneerselvam as the candidate to take over as the acting CM was doing the rounds but we were all unanimous that we wanted the best. We wanted Dr Manmohan Singh only,” a senior AIADMK leader privy to the confabulations disclosed.

The news has brought some cheer to grieving AIADMK supporters, who are otherwise yet to come to terms with the shocking judicial verdict. “My life was looking so bleak with Amma no longer around to shower us with her benevolence,” said staunch Amma loyalist, Thangavelu. “That is until Dr Singh’s candidature to act as TN CM came up. Then suddenly my spirits lifted. I can now go to sleep assured that only Amma will be ruling over us now,” Thangavelu added, wiping his tears and allowing a faint smile to animate a face drained by hours of grief.

Dr Singh may take the oath of office as early as tomorrow after he has taken an oath of allegiance to Amma. “Obviously, it is impossible for Dr Singh to become a MLA so we’ll nominate him to the TN Legislative Council,” an AIADMK minister said. “We are also readying a residence for him in the Mylapore area so that he can immediately shift to Tamil Nadu from Assam.”

Jayalalithaa flashed the V symbol as she was escorted away, assuring her ministers and supporters that she will fully be in charge. In addition to files being ferried to Amma’s cell, just as was the practice when Dr Singh was the PM, Amma will oversee Dr Singh through state of the art devices lent by Amit Shah.

Dr Singh may be given some leeway in pursuing some of his pet themes – liberalization of the TN economy, fostering closer ties with neighboring states – but has sternly been warned to stay away from tinkering with any of the Amma schemes. “He may be an economist turned PM but he’ll now have to reinvent himself as an Ammanomist cum CM,” a top AIADMK leader quipped.