NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi has approved chief minister M K Stalin’s recommendations for a cabinet reshuffle, which includes the elevation of Udhayanidhi Stalin to the post of deputy chief minister. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on September 29 at 3:30 pm at Raj Bhavan, Chennai, according to an official communique from the Governor’s office.
The reshuffle also marks the return of V Senthil Balaji to the council of ministers, two days after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a money laundering case.Balaji, who had resigned earlier this year after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a cash-for-jobs scam, will be re-inducted into the cabinet alongside three new ministers: Dr Govi Chezhiaan, R Rajendran, and S M Nasar.
In addition to these changes, three ministers, including Mano Thangaraj, who held the dairy development portfolio, have been dropped.
According to a statement from Raj Bhavan, chief minister Stalin has recommended that Udhayanidhi Stalin, currently the minister for youth welfare and sports development, be assigned the planning and development portfolio in addition to his existing responsibilities and be designated as deputy chief minister. The Governor has approved this recommendation.
Additionally, the reshuffle includes a change in the higher education portfolio, with minister Dr K Ponmudy now serving as the minister for forests.