In yet another reshuffle of Ministers of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister K.V.Ramalingam was dropped from the Cabinet on Monday.
MGR youth wing secretary and Sattur Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) R.B. Udhaya Kumar, who was Minister for Information Technology for six months in 2011, is back in the Cabinet.
About a month ago, Mr Ramalingam was divested of the Public Works Department, a portfolio he held since May 2011, and he was subsequently entrusted with Sports and Youth Welfare. Though no reason was cited, the controversy over quarrying of river sand was widely perceived to have contributed to the change. Last month, the authorities decided to ban quarrying of river sand in the Kancheepuram district. A panel of officials, led by Energy Secretary Rajesh Lakhoni, is undertaking a study of the status of quarrying throughout the State. A few days ago, Mr. Ramalingam lost the party post of secretary of Erode (Urban) district.
The subject of Sports and Youth Welfare will now be handled by Mr. Udhaya Kumar.
On the advice of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Governor also reshuffled portfolios of three Ministers.
Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister B.V. Ramanaa has been given the portfolio of Revenue, held by Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam.
Mr. Venkatachalam will be in charge of Environment and Pollution Control, while Mr. Ramanaa's subjects have been transferred to M. C. Sampath, who was looking after Environment and Pollution Control till now.
