Chennai: In a sudden move, Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday sacked six of her ministerial
colleagues and inducted an equal number to replace them.
The axe fell on C Shamugavelu (Rural Industries), R B
Udhyakumar (Information Technology), S P Shanmuganathan (Hindu
Religious and Charitable Endowments), N R Sivapathy (Animal
Husbandry), G Senthamizhan (Information, Law and Courts) and
Budhichandiran (Food).
Jayalalithaa`s action announced in a Raj Bhavan
communique comes just five months after she returned to power
in May following her AIADMK`s landslide victory in the April
13 assembly elections.
Of the dropped ministers, Senthamizhan, AIADMK South
Chennai district secretary, had allegedly telephoned police to
release some arrested partymen.
Udhayakumar, who once stated he would not wear slippers
in the secretariat as it was the living place of his `god`
(Jayalalithaa) was chided by her for his "extravagance" during
her visit to Tiruchirapalli for campaigning in the bypoll.
Budhichandran faced the axe for reportedly favouring a
group of Padugas, a tribal community in Nilgiris district and
ignoring others. The other ministers were removed for their
non-performance.
Those to be sworn-in are former AIADMK minister S
Damodaran, R Kamaraj, S Sundraraj, M Paranjothi, who was
recently elected to the assembly in the bye-election to
Tiruchirapalli West, V Moorthy and K Rajenthra Bhalaji. The
communiqué did not mention the date of the swearing-in.
Simultaneously, she also changed the portfolios of
several ministers.
This is the third time since May that Jayalalithaa has
reshuffled her cabinet.
In June, she dropped Law Minister Isakki Subbaiah and his
portfolio was handed over to Senthamizhan.
She then inducted Chendur Pandiyan as Rural Industries
minister and Mohammedjohn as a replacement to Mariam Pitchai,
who died in a road mishap even before taking oath as MLA.
Of the new ministers, Damodaran was a member in the
2001-06 Jayalalithaa ministry while R Kamaraj was a former
Rajya Sabha member. Sundararaj is a three-time MLA while
Moorthy is a second time member. Rajenthra Bhalaji has become
MLA for the first time.
PTI
