Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, who has now been elevated to Deputy CM responded to the criticism levied against him after the cabinet reshuffle was approved. Udhayanidhi, who was earlier the Minister of Sports, attended the swearing in ceremony of the four ministers, inducted to the cabinet on Sunday at Raj Bhawan.
R Rajendran, Govi Chezhiaan, and S M Nasar were sworn in as ministers by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi at Raj Bhavan in Chennai. V Senthil Balaji has also returned to the council of ministers, just two days after securing a bail in a money laundering case. He had been in jail for the last 15 months.
Responding to the criticism, the newly-appointed Deputy CM said that he would try to take all of it and work for the public by giving his best. "Of course there is criticism, I will try my best to take in all the criticism and work my best for the public. I accept all your criticisms and will respond to them through my work," Udhayanidhi Stalin told the reporters ahead of the oath-taking ceremony.
He also wished the new ministers luck and congratulated them on their appointment. "Last night, the Chief Minister gave me an additional charge, announcing me as the Deputy Chief Minister. Four new ministers are taking oath today and I wish them all the best. I express my gratitude to the Chief Minister. This is not a position but an additional responsibility, my thanks to all who have expressed their wishes" he said.
The ministers were sworn-in a day after Governor RN Ravi approved the recommendations on the Cabinet reshuffle, initiated by CM Stalin earlier this week. As per the recommendations, three existing ministers have been dropped in the exercise, while three others have been elected in the new cabinet.
Visuals of Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin arriving for the ceremony at Raj Bhavan also surfaced.
Who's What After The Cabinet Reshuffle
According to a Raj Bhavan release, Stalin recommended to Governor Ravi to allot the portfolio of Planning and Development to Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, in addition to his existing portfolios and be designated as Deputy Chief Minister.
Besides Balaji and Stalin, three other ministers--Dr Govi Chezhiaan, R Rajendran and S M Nasar-- have also been inducted in the reshuffled cabinet. Nasar was earlier dropped as Minister for Milk and Dairy Development in another cabinet reshuffle.
The Governor had also approved Stalin's recommendations on dropping T Mano Thangaraj, who held the Milk and Dairy Development portfolio. Minorities Welfare Minister Gingee S Masthan and Tourism Minister K Ramachandran were also dropped.
As part of the reshuffle excercise, the portfolios of several other ministers has been changed. K Ponmudy, who was the Minister for Higher Education is now Minister for Forests. Environment Minister Siva V Meyyanathan has now been appointed as Minister for Backward Classes, while Dr M Mathiventhan, currently holding the Forests portfolio, has been given Adi Dravidar Welfare.
Finance Minster Thangam Thennarasu has been given additional portfolio of Environment and Climate Change.
R S Rajakannappan, holding Backward Classes Welfare portfolio, is Milk and Dairy Development and Khadi minister.