Last Update: May 11, 2023, 12:19 pm IST
The incumbent, PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, is the new Information Technology Minister. (file photo)
After the controversy related to Thiagarajan, the discussion of change in the Tamil Nadu cabinet started. A series of audio tapes purportedly of Thiagarajan were circulating in social media, making allegations against CM Stalin and his family
Two years after winning the assembly polls and forming the government after 10 years of AIADMK rule, the DMK government on Thursday reshuffled the cabinet, with Thangam Thennarasu making new portfolios of finance, planning, human resource management, pensions, statistics and archaeology. Became a minister. The incumbent, PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, is the new Information Technology Minister.
Information and Publicity Minister MP Saminathan will also hold the additional charge of Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture Department.
TRB Raja, the 46-year-old DMK MLA representing the Mannargudi constituency in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, was on Thursday administered the oath of office by Governor RN Ravi at a function at the Raj Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin and his cabinet colleagues. Raja is the new Industries Minister, so does Thennarasu.
While Raja has been inducted into the cabinet, Avadi DMK MLA SM Nasar, who was the milk and dairy minister, was dropped from the cabinet. IT minister Mano Thangaraj has been made the new milk and dairy minister in his place.
Raja, son of Sriperumbudur DMK MP TR Balu, has a PhD in psychology and also heads the party’s IT wing. Raja is also a member of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission and chairman of the Legislative Committee on Estimates. Raja joined Udhayanidhi Stalin and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi as the party’s youth trio in the cabinet.
Cabinet changes were in the air following the controversy involving Thiagarajan. A series of audio tapes purportedly containing Thiagarajan’s voice were being circulated on social media, leveling absurd allegations against the chief minister and his family members. Although Thiagarajan denied that the voice was his, BJP state chief K Annamalai refused to agree and continued to release more such audio tapes.
Though the chief minister denounced Annamalai and stood by Thiagarajan, he was transferred from the finance department. He reduced the revenue and fiscal deficit by presenting three budgets (revised budget 2021, 2022 and 2023) and improved the financial condition of the state.
Raja has taken charge of the industries department at a time when the government is trying hard to woo more and more industries. “I will work with Stalin and strengthen his hands,” the king told the media before being sworn in.
CM Stalin will visit four countries from May 23 to woo investors and will also invite big companies to the Global Investors Meeting to be held in January 2024.
Nassar has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in the last two years. A video was in circulation earlier this year, which showed Nassar pelting stones at party workers in Tiruvallur – a move criticized by opposition parties. It was also alleged that there was a severe shortage of dairy products like milk and butter, which was still not available in the market.