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Mix of old and new faces in Jayalalithaa’s government
AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa called on Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah on Saturday evening and staked her claim to form the government
Chennai
After Jayalalithaa handed over the copy of the resolution passed by the AIADMK legislators electing her as leader of the legislature party, the governor invited her to form the ministry.
The AIADMK leader also submitted a letter recommending the list of persons who are to be appointed as ministers in the cabinet and the allocation of portfolios.
A Raj Bhavan release said that the recommendation made by the Chief Minister-designate J Jayalalithaa had been approved. The swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet would be held at 12 pm on Monday at the University of Madras Centenary auditorium.
The 29-member cabinet has some new faces including Dr V Saroja (Social Welfare and Nutritious Noon Meal Programme), Kadambur Raju (Information and Publicity), P Benjamin (School Education, Sports and Youth Welfare), Vellamandi N Natarajan (Tourism) and V M Rajalakshmi (Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare).
Old-timers such as O Panneerselvam (Finance), Sellur K Raju (Cooperation and Labour), Edappadi K Palaniswami (Public works, highways and minor ports) and S P Velumani (Municipal Administration and Rural Development) have been rewarded for their unflinching loyalty to the party leadership.
Meanwhile, senior leader D Jayakumar, who fell out of favour during 2011-16 regime, has been given the fisheries portfolio. Jayalalithaa has retained the same portfolios such as Public, IAS, IPS, IFS, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, Police and Home.
Among other persons who have been allotted key portfolios are: P Thangamani (Electricity, Prohibition and Excise), R Kamaraj (Food, Civil Supplies and HR & CE), Dr C Viijaya Baskar (Health & Family Welfare), R B Udhayakumar (Revenue) and K C Veeramani (Commercial Taxes). Old warhorse and former MP S Semmalai, who was elected as MLA from Mettur has been appointed as the pro-tem speaker.
MINISTRY DIARY
- Names of around 10 ministers in the previous cabinet have figured in the new Cabinet as well.
- The new cabinet to be formed by Jayalalithaa will have 29 ministers.
- O Panneerselvam, Sellur K Raju, Edapadi Palaniswamy, P Thangamani, SP Velumani and D Jayakumar are the prominent faces.
- Semmalai, elected from Mettur constituency, will be the pro-tem Speaker.
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