The first re-shuffle of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Ministry was announced on Monday.
A. Mohammed John, Member of Legislative Assembly representing the Ranipet constituency in Vellore district, will be sworn in Cabinet Minister at a function on Wednesday morning. He will be designated as the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Minister. This portfolio is held by T.K. M. Chinnayya, who will continue to hold the subjects of Environment and Pollution Control. Mr. John, who defeated Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's R. Gandhi, has been a member of the AIADMK since inception. At present, he is the Vellore District secretary of the minorities' wing of the party. Sixty two-year-old John was a councillor of the Ranipet Municipality twice. He will be filling the vacancy caused by the death of N. Mariyam Pitchai, who died in a road accident last month.
Industries Minister C. Shanmugavelu has been made Minister for Rural Industries, the portfolio held by M.C. Sampath. Minister for Special Programme Implementation S.P. Velumani has been given the subject of Industries and Mr Sampath, the portfolio of Special Programme Implementation. An official release, issued by the Raj Bhavan, stated that Animal Husbandry, Milk and Dairy Development Minister C. Karuppasamy would be known as Sports and Youth Welfare Minister, while N.R. Sivapathi would be given the subject being held by Mr. Karuppasamy.
Review
From Wednesday, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will begin a comprehensive review of the working of government departments. The review will go on till July 15.
She will begin the exercise with the Home, Excise and Prohibition Department, a portfolio held by her. Among the departments to be covered are Food and Social Welfare on Thursday and Rural Development on Friday. Next week, Energy, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Commercial Taxes and Labour Departments will be covered. During July 11-15, the Departments of Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, School Education, Higher Education, Industries, Tourism and Culture, Revenue, Transport and Environment and Forests will be taken up for review.
