In a much-expected cabinet reshuffle in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin-led cabinet dropped Tamil Nadu Daily Development Minister SM Nasar and inducted MLA TRP Rajaa in the Council of Ministers. The development came after DMK ministers met Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.
In a communication, Principal Secretary to Governor said, “Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has recommended to the Governor of Tamil Nadu to induct Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Mannargudi Assembly Constituency, in the Council of Ministers. The Governor has approved the recommendation."
“The Swearing-in-Ceremony of the Minister-designate will be held on May 11, 2023 at 10.30 A.M. at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan,” it said.
The communique also said that the recommendation of Tamil Nadu CM to drop SM Nasar, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, from the Council of Ministers, has been approved by the Governor.
With this, it is clear that the three-time Mannargudi MLA will replace Nasar. The move also comes after Nasar ran into controversy for allegedly throwing a stone at a party worker. The viral video of the act also received flak from party circles.
TRB Rajaa is the son of senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP TR Baalu. Raja is also DMK IT wing chief.
Earlier, speculation was rife that Finance Minister PTR Thiagarajan is likely to be divested the finance portfolio. The decision was due to a purported audio clip to be that of Thiagarajan that went viral in which he spoke against the Chief Minister's son Udayanidhi Stalin and his son-in-law Sabareesan. However, it may be noted that the video was released as part of 'DMK Files' initiated by BJP to bring out the ‘corruption’ in DMK-led government.
Meanwhile, this is the second time there is a reshuffle in the Stalin-led cabinet. Last time the portfolios of Raja Kannappan and SS Sivashankar were interchanged.