The Salem and Namakkal districts have got three Ministers in Jayalalithaa's Cabinet.
While K. Palanisamy from Edappadi constituency and P. Thangamani from Kumarapalayam constituency had served as Ministers in the previous regime, V. Saroja from Rasipuram-reserved seat is a new face.
Dr. V. Saroja, who has been nominated as Social Welfare and Nutritious Noon Meal Minister in the new Jayalalithaa Cabinet, had held the posts of MP and MLA and State Information Commissioner in the past.
A medical professional with a MBBS, MD and DGO degrees from Stanley Medical College and Madras Medical College, Chennai,
Dr. Saroja was elected to the State Assembly from Sankagiri-reserved constituency in Salem district in the 1991 elections.
Later she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rasipuram-reserved constituency in 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha elections. She also served as member of Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women, Chairman of TAHDCO, and a State Information Commissioner.
In the Assembly elections, Dr. Saroja defeated former DMK nominee and former Deputy Speaker V. P. Duraisamy by 9,631 votes in Rasipuram-reserved constituency in Namakkal district. While Dr. Saroja polled 86,901 votes, Mr. Duraisamy tallied 77,270 votes.
Additional portfolio
‘Edappadi’ K. Palanisamy, the Minister for State Highways and Minor Ports in the previous Jayalalithaa regime, has not only retained the same portfolio, but has also got additional powerful Public Works Department portfolio.
He was first elected to the Assembly from Edappadi constituency in 1989 and retained the seat in the next elections.
He won from the same constituency in the 2011 elections too.
In the May 16 polls, Mr. Palanisamy romped home with a whopping margin of 42,022 votes over his nearest PMK rival N. Annadurai in a 15-cornered contest in Edappadi constituency.
Mr. Palanisamy secured 98,703 votes, Mr. Annadurai polled 56,681 votes.
Mr. Palanisamy remained a high profile Minister in the previous Cabinet and was a close confidant of Chief Minister.
P. Thangamani, elected from Komarapalayam constituency for the third successive time, has been this time allotted Electricity portfolio.
He served as the Minister for Industries and later was given the Transport portfolio too.
Mr. Thangamani was first elected to the Assembly from Tiruchengode constituency in the 2006 elections and was shifted to newly created Kumarapalayam seat in the 2011 elections.
He defeated P. Yuvaraj of DMK by a whopping margin of 47,329 votes in Kumarapalayam seat this time.
