Quick Facts
Biography
K. Palaniswami (born 2 March 1954) known as Edappadi K. Palaniswami is an Indian politician who is the 13th and current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, having assumed the office on 16 February 2017. He is a senior leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Political career
A member of the AIADMK political party, Palaniswami is the incumbent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Edapadi in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu. He previously served as Minister for Highways and Minor Ports in the Jayalalithaa- and O. Panneerselvam-led ministries of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
First term as Chief Minister, 2017
Palanniswami was elected as the leader of AIADMK party on 14 February 2017, becoming Chief Minister after the death of Jayalalithaa.
Legislative career
Palaniswami has won the assembly election to the state assembly four times, in 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016 from the Edapadi constituency.