Saturday, December 14, 2013

Tamil Nadu: Cabinet changes for 14th time

In yet another round of shuffle 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. Sattur MLA R.B. Udhaya Kumar, who was Minister for Information Technology for six months in 2011, is re-inducted into 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 entrusted with Sports and Youth Welfare. Though no reason was cited then publicly, the controversy over quarrying of river sand was widely perceived to have contributed to the change. Last month, authorities had decided to ban quarrying of river sand in Kancheepuram district.
The Sports and Youth Welfare portfolio will now be handled by Mr. Udhaya Kumar. Governor K. Rosaiah will administer oath of office and secrecy to the Sattur MLA at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, according to an official communiqué.
On the advice of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Mr. Rosaiah 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 portfolios have been transferred to M. C. Sampath, who was looking after Environment and Pollution Control till now.

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