Ponmudy arrest: Raja Kannappan to take over Higher Education portfolio

CHENNAI: In the aftermath of the Madras High Court convicting senior DMK leader K Ponmudi in the DA case, the higher education portfolio held by him has been given as additional charge to incumbent backward classes minister R S Rajakannappan.

An official communique from the state Raj Bhavan confirmed the portfolio change and said that the governor has approved the recommendation of Chief Minister M K Stalin that the portfolios of higher education, including technical education, electronics, science and technology previously dealt with by K Ponmudi, be allotted to R S Rajakannappan, ministers of backward classes in addition to the portfolios of backward classes welfare, MBC welfare and denotified communities welfare already held by him.

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"Governor has also approved the recommendation of the chief minister that the portfolios of Khadi and Village Industries Board looked after by R S Rajakannappan be allotted to R Gandhi, minister for handlooms and textiles in addition to the portfolios of handlooms and textiles, Boodhan and Gramadhan already held by him."

The portfolio change effected following the DA case conviction must be a blessing in disguise for minister Raja Kannappan who was stripped off the plum transport portfolio over a year ago following a complaint of a government office about the minister making alleged casteist slur against him.