VK Sasikala who was on Sunday elected as the leader of the AIADMK legislature party, said the development in the party had shattered the hopes of the opposition parties in the state. "The development has come shattering the expectation of our political opponents that there will be a split in the party after the demise of our Amma (Jayalalithaa)," Sasikala said after party MLAs unanimously elected her as their leader. The development paves the way for her becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu and she is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday. Sasikala had a special word of praise for Panneerselvam, stating "whenever the party faced tough times and whenever there were difficulties in Amma becoming the chief minister, it was our dear brother Panneerselvam who has been loyal." "It was Panneerselvam who had first persuaded me to become the Chief Minister and General Secretary as well when Jayalalithaa passed away," Sasikala told party legislators in her acceptance speech.