CM Vijay keeps home, welfare portfolios as TN's TVK-led cabinet takes shape

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Saturday (May 16) unveiled the portfolio allocations for ministers in his cabinet, six days after he and nine senior leaders of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) were sworn in at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai.

State Governor Rajendra Arlekar approved the CM’s recommendations.

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Vijay, who was elected from the Perambur and Trichy East constituencies but later vacated the second, kept for himself the key departments of public, general administration, home and police, special programme implementation, women and children welfare, youth welfare, municipal administration and water supply, welfare of differently abled persons, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Forest Service, among others.

Sengottaiyan gets finance, Keerthana industries

Senior leader K A Sengottaiyan, who is also a 10-time MLA, was chosen as the new government’s finance minister. First-time MLA Selvi Keerthana became the industries minister. Their presence meant that the TVK leadership was betting on both experience and youth in matters of governance.

The other ministers and their portfolios include:

N Anand (representing Thiyagarayanagar/ T. Nagar seat) was picked as the minister for rural development and water resources. Known as ‘Bussy’ Anand, the TVK general secretary and Vijay’s close confidante, will head rural development, panchayat, poverty alleviation, rural indebtedness and irrigation (including small irrigation projects).

Aadhav Arjuna (representing Villivakkam seat) became the minister for public works and sports development. A first-time MLA and former basketball administrator, he will handle public works (buildings, highways and minor ports) and sports development.

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K G Arunraj (Tiruchengode seat) became the minister for health, medical education and family welfare. He is a former Indian Revenue Service officer and TVK’s policy and propaganda general secretary.

K A Sengottaiyan (Gobichettipalayam seat) became the minister for finance. The veteran 10-time MLA and former All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam minister, who joined TVK last year, takes charge of finance, pensions and pension allowances.

P Venkataramanan (Mylapore seat) became the minister for food and civil supplies. He will oversee food and civil supplies, consumer protection and price control.

R Nirmalkumar (Thirupparankundram seat) became the minister for energy resources and law. The joint general secretary and party spokesperson will oversee electricity and non-conventional energy development, law, courts, prisons, prevention of corruption, Legislative Assembly, governor, elections and passports.

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Rajmohan (Egmore) became the minister for school education, Tamil development, information and publicity. He will look after school education, archaeology, Tamil official language and culture, information and publicity, film technology, Cinematograph Act, newsprint control, stationery, printing and government press.

T K Prabhu (Karaikudi seat) became the minister for natural resources. He is in charge of minerals and mines.

Selvi S Keerthana (Sivakasi seat) became the minister for industries. At 29, she became the youngest minister of the state and will handle industries and investment promotion.