Ottakarathevar Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS (born 14 January 1951) is an Indian politician, 6th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 6 December 2016 to 15 February 2017 and as the 2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 21 August 2017 to 6 May 2021. As a finance minister, he has presented the Tamil Nadu State Budget 11 times. He was the former co-ordinator of the AIADMK political party. He was a staunch aide of former chief minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalithaa. His first two terms as Chief Minister came when he replaced Jayalalithaa in the role, after she was forced to resign by the courts. His third term began following Jayalalithaa's death and ended two months later, Edappadi K. Palaniswami was selected as the Chief Minister. He was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 21 August 2017. He held portfolios of Finance, Housing, Rural Housing, Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development, and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority in the Edappadi K. Palaniswami cabinet. On 4 January 2018, O. Panneerselvam elected as Leader of the House in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Personal life Panneerselvam was born on 14 January 1951 in Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haji Karutha Rowther Howdia College in Uthamapalayam, Theni district. His close friends Salavuddin from Tenali encouraged him into politics. He also owned some agricultural land. He is married to P. Vijayalakshmi and the couple have three children. He is currently elected from the constituency of Bodinayakkanur, in Theni district. His wife died on 1 September 2021 due to a heart attack and his mother died at the age of 96 on 24 February 2023. Political career Early political career Panneerselvam started his political career periyakulam as a worker of the AIADMK in 1973 after M. G. Ramachandran split from the DMK. He was Chairman of Periyakulam Municipality from 1996 to 2001. First term as Chief Minister, 2001-2002 He was sworn in as the 6th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in September 2001 when the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was barred from holding office by the Supreme Court of India. During his stint as Chief Minister, he was widely criticised for allegedly heading a puppet government managed by Jayalalithaa. His tenure lasted for six months, from 21 September 2001 to 1 March 2002. In