Udhayanidhi Stalin to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Senthilbalaji back in cabinet

CHENNAI: It's official now. State sports minister and DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin will be appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, bringing to an end months of speculation about the elevation of the next scion of Karunanidhi clan in the DMK.

Also, three incumbent ministers of the DMK would be sacked and two new faces inducted into the cabinet Sunday in addition to the reinduction of V Senthilbalaji, two days after his release on bail in the money laundering case.

An official communique from Raj Bhavan, circulated by the State Information Department to the media, confirmed that Chief Minister MK Stalin has recommended the designation of Udhayanidhi as Deputy CM and allotted the Planning and Development portfolio in addition to his existing portfolios.

CM Stalin also recommended the induction of V Senthilbalaji, Govi Chezhian, R Rajendran and SM Nasar, as was reported by DT Next a few weeks ago.

According to the Raj Bhavan communique, the Governor has approved the recommendation and the swearing-in ceremony of the minister-designates will be held at Raj Bhavan at 3.30 pm on Sunday.

Incumbent Dairy Minister Mano Thangaraj, NRI Welfare Minister Gingee KS Masthan and Tourism Minister K Ramachandran have been dropped. Following Chezhian’s induction into the cabinet, the DMK leadership has appointed MLA Ramachandran as the government chief whip.

Ponmudi stripped off higher education

However, the biggest surprise in the cabinet reshuffle was the change in the portfolio of DMK deputy general secretary K Ponmudi.

He has been stripped of Higher Education and allotted Forests.

Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu has been divested of Human Resources and allotted Environment, Pollution Control and Climate Change, so far held by Siva V Meyyanathan who has been awarded Backward Classes portfolio.

Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister Kayalvizhi Selvaraj has been allotted Human Resources, while Forest Minister M Mathiventhan has been entrusted with Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare.

Announcements regarding Electricity and Higher Education are expected after Sunday's swearing-in ceremony.

TN Raj bhavan accepts all the recommendations from CM on Cabinet shuffle:

Udhayanidhi Stalin - Deputy CM

4 New Ministers - V Senthil Balaji, Dr Govi Chezhian, R Rajendran, SM Naasar

3 Dropped Ministers - T Mano Thangaraj, Gingee K S Masthan, K Ramachandran

Portfolio shuffled Ministers - K Ponmudy, V Meyyanathan, N Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, M Mathiventhan, RS Rajakannappan, Thangam Thennarasu