Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlikar on Saturday approved the allocation of portfolios to the nine ministers who took oath with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on May 10. The portfolios were allocated in accordance with the recommendations of the Prime Minister.
CM Vijay will take charge of public administration, public and home administration, special program implementation, women and youth welfare, municipal administration, urban supply and water.
Who gets what?
Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) general secretary N Anand, who emerged victorious from Thyagarayanagar Assembly constituency, has been appointed Minister of Rural Development and Water Resources. The portfolios include rural development, panchayats, poverty alleviation, rural indebtedness and irrigation, and irrigation projects.
Aadhav Arjuna, the party’s general secretary (election campaign) is the minister of public works and sports development. His portfolios include public works, buildings, highways, small ports and sports development.
Dr KG Arunraj, the party’s publicity secretary and a former IPS officer, is the health, medical, education and family welfare minister.
Veteran politician and Gobichettipalayam Party MLA, KA Sengottaiyan is the Finance Minister. He will handle financial affairs, pensions and retirement allowances.
Party legislator from Mylapore and also treasurer P Venkataraman is the food and civil supplies minister. It will also be concerned with consumer protection and price control.
TVK CTR Joint General Secretary Nirmal Kumar is the Minister of Energy, Resources and Law. It will also be concerned with the development of electricity, non-conventional energy, law, courts, prisons, corruption prevention, the legislature, elections and passports.
Egmore Party legislator Rajmohan is the Minister of School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity. It will undertake the functions of archaeology, Tamil official language and Tamil culture, information and propaganda, film and cinematography technology, newsprint control, stationery and printing, and government press.
TVK Karaikudi District Legislator Dr TK Prabhu is the Natural Resources Minister. His investment portfolio includes metals and mining.
Party legislator Sivajasi and sole minister S Keerthana is the industries minister. She will take charge of industries and investment promotion, a statement issued by Lok Bhavan said.
TVK made history
TVK emerged victorious in the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, 10 seats short of a majority to form the government. With the support of the Congress, Left parties, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Viduthalai Chiruthigal Katchi (VCK), it formed the government.
Vijay won a vote of confidence in the state Assembly on Wednesday with the support of 144 MLAs, including lawmakers from his party TVK. The IUML, TCK CPI, CPI(M) and Congress also supported Vijay, taking TVK’s tally to 117, the mark required to prove a majority.
Vijay’s tally improved as an internal crack opened in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) assembly. AIADMK chief Edapaddi Palaniswami opposed the confidence vote and said that all the party’s 47 MLAs would stand against TVK, and the rival faction led by SP Velumani proved him wrong moments later.
