The two warring factions of AIADMK (Amma) headed by former Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam and AIADMK (PTA) headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami merged on Monday, six months after the party split.
Mr. Panneerselvam, who thrice held the post of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was sworn-in as Deputy Chief Minister in the cabinet headed by Mr. Palaniswami at a ceremony to be held at Raj Bhavan this evening.
Mr. Panneerselvam will also hold the plum portfolios of Finance, Housing, Rural Housing, Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development, and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
D. Jayakumar, who held the Finance Ministry, will remain the Fisheries Minister of the State, a portfolio he was given before the split in the AIADMK.
'Ma Foi' K. Pandiarajan, who held the School Education portfolio before quitting to join Mr. Panneerselvam, has been given the portfolio of Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture. These portfolios were earlier held by Sevvoor S. Ramachandran. Mr. Pandiarajan would also hold the Archaeology portfolio.
Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan, who was divested of Housing portfolio, has been given Animal Husbandry, while P. Balakrishna Reddy, who held the post earlier has been given the Youth Welfare and Sports Development ministries.
In addition to Law, C.Ve. Shanmugam would also hold the portfolio of Mines and Minerals hitherto held by Mr. M.C. Sampath, the release from the Governor's Secretary added. The swearing-in is scheduled at 4.30 pm.
Published - August 21, 2017 03:46 pm IST
