Mr. Panneerselvam strode into the Tamil Nadu Assembly carrying a briefcase bulging with budget papers but plastered with a picture of Ms. Jayalalithaa.
O Panneerselvam may have replaced J Jayalalithaa, his convicted party head, as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, but he's making sure everyone sees, literally, where his allegiance lies.
On Wednesday, Mr. Panneerselvam strode into the Tamil Nadu Assembly carrying a briefcase bulging with budget papers but plastered with a picture of Ms. Jayalalithaa who was found guilty in the 66 crores disproportionate assets case. In his budget speech too, he made sure to drop her name copiously.
"Each and every word and the underlying spirit behind this budget statement are founded on the profound guidance" of Ms. Jayalalithaa, he said.
The former Finance Minister also continues to work from his old office without any updated signboards of his title. It may be that he's expecting her back soon. The Karnataka High Court hearing her appeal is expected to give its verdict any time in the next few weeks.
And after all that, just in case anyone's not convinced of his fealty, Mr. Panneerselvam ensures his party chief's presence at every meeting he chairs, by, you guessed it, placing a picture of Ms Jayalalithaa prominently on the table.