Edapadi K Palanisamy may rejig Cabinet shortly

Sources close to the members of the disgruntled group disclosed that the CM reportedly agreed for a reshuffle in which a few new faces might get ministerial berths and some more were likely to be given party plum posts. A major portion of it might do some good to functionaries in the central region. 

Soon after Edapadi K Palanisamy was sworn in as Chief Minister to end the uncertainty in the government following the arrest of party general secretary VK Sasikala, he had to cool down various groups, including those who were with him in the Koovathur camp and later pressured him to fulfil the promises made during their stay at the resorts.  Mounting the pressure on Palanisamy, a group of eight MLAs, including V Senthil Balaji, Thoppur Venkatachalam and KP Ramalingam met the Chief Minister a couple of days ago and ‘reminded’ him of the promises made at Koovathur. This decision was expected even earlier as Senthil Balaji attempted to show his strength by organising a series of protests against the state government. “Soon after the protest plan, he (Senthil Balaji) had frequent calls from the headquarters and was invited for a ‘peace talk’, which indicated that the present top brass was ready for any settlement with him,” said a close confidante of Senthil Balaji.

As the Chief Minister want to complete the remaining four years in government without any hitch, the disgruntled members in a bid to exploit the situation walked to Palanisamy with a big list of demands. During their meeting with the Chief Minister, they poured out what they had in mind especially, their demand of either ministerial berth or district secretary post since, at present, the ministers were not responding to requests of even senior functionaries like Senthil Balaji. 

A senior functionary of the AIADMK from one of the Central districts and a close aide of a former minister said that the Chief Minister had a discussion with the senior members about the cabinet reshuffle and he had reportedly agreed to do it. The Chief Minister might call the disgruntled group for one more meeting after returning from Delhi. Probably, three MLAs might be given ministerial berths, while another three might be silenced with plum party posts.