In the removal and induction of Ministers effected in the State Cabinet on Friday, the regional balance has been by and large maintained.
The exit of Udhayakumar and Shanumuganathan, both from the southern districts of Virudhunagar and Tuticorin, has been offset by the entry of Sundararaj and Bhalaji, who are from the south.
Also, the induction of Sundararaj, a Dalit, will fill the vacancy caused by the death of another Dalit Minister, C. Karuppasamy, who was also from the south – Sankarankovil of Tirunelveli district. The Minister-designate represents Paramakudi, the area that witnessed police firing in September, leading to the death of six persons.
Sivapathi, who is from Musiri of Tiruchi district, has given way to Paranjothi of the same district.
In the western region, Damodaran, who is from Coimbatore, fills the vacancy caused by the removal of Shanmugavelu of Madathukulam in the neighbouring district of Tirupur. Likewise, Senthamizhan, two-time MLA of Saidapet, has been replaced with Moorthy, who is from the neighbouring Tiruvallur district.
