Major reshuffle in TN as government transfers Home Secretary, TNEB CMD

CHENNAI: The Home Department and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), which have been in the eye of a political storm in the recent days over various law-and-order issues and relentless power cuts, respectively, will have new faces at the official level, after the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government transferred the senior officers heading them and brought in replacements. 

As per the order issued on Friday (October 9), K Manivasan, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, has been transferred and posted as Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner of Land Administration, replacing Rajesh Lakhoni. 

A Karthik, Principal Secretary/chairman and managing director of the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (TANSIDCO), has been appointed Principal Secretary in charge of the department.

Another significant change was in the Energy department, with V Arun Roy, chairman and managing director of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) and Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL), being replaced with Rajesh Lakhoni.

Lakhoni, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner of Land Administration, will also function as the chairman of the Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation, Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation, and Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation.

Arun Roy has been transferred as Secretary to the Government (Expenditure), Finance Department. N Venkatesh, who was handling the post till now, has now been appointed as the Agriculture–Farmers' Welfare Department Secretary and Agricultural Production Commissioner, replacing Dr N Subbaiyan, who was holding additional charge.

The transfers came at a time when the government is facing severe criticisms over allegedly worsening law-and-order situation and recurrent announced and unannounced power cuts and voltage fluctuations. While crime is a favourite topic for political opponents — though many of the murders are triggered by personal issues — the power crisis has been having a more serious impact on the people — and hence a real headache for the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led administration.