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NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday allocated portfolios to the 23 newly inducted ministers in his Cabinet, including members from the Congress party.As part of the reshuffle, Vijay retained the Poverty Alleviation portfolio and reassigned the Women Welfare department, previously held by him, to newly inducted minister K Jegadeshwari.Congress leaders S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan have been allotted the Tourism and Higher Education portfolios, respectively.Senior leader KA Sengottaiyan, who earlier handled Finance, has now been given charge of the Revenue and Disaster Management department. TVK leader N Marie Wilson has been appointed Minister for Finance, Planning and Development.Another TVK minister, Mohamed Farvas, has been allocated the Labour Welfare and Skill Development portfolio.A release from Lok Bhavan said the governor has approved the Cabinet changes as well as the allocation of portfolios.Hours before the allocation, the swearing-in ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers. TVK MLAs Srinath, S Kamali, C Vijayalakshmi and R V Ranjithkumar were among the first to take oath. Congress legislators S Rajesh Kumar from Killiyoor and P Viswanathan from Melur were also sworn in as ministers.AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar described the Congress’ entry into the Tamil Nadu Cabinet as a “turning point” in the state’s political history.“Congress cadres have worked with loyalty and dedication for power for the last 59 years. Now, they have finally achieved it,” he said.Congress Lok Sabha MP from Karur, Jothimani, called it a historic and emotional moment for the party.“After 59 years, two Congress members have become ministers in Tamil Nadu. Heartfelt congratulations to elder brother Viswanathan and younger brother Rajesh Kumar. May this become an opportunity to serve the people of Tamil Nadu in an exemplary manner,” she said in a statement.Congress supporters also celebrated on social media that the party’s return to the Cabinet coincided with the May 21 death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.A total of 23 MLAs, including three women, were inducted into the Cabinet. Vijay’s close aide Srinath, elected from the Thoothukudi Assembly constituency, was the first to take oath. Mohamed Farvas J and N Marie Wilson are among ministers from minority communities.During the ceremony, Governor Arlekar briefly interrupted Congress leader Rajesh Kumar after he spontaneously hailed Congress icons K Kamaraj, Rajiv Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi while reading out the oath.“That is not part of your oath,” the Governor remarked, asking him to stick to the official text.The Cabinet expansion marks the Congress’ return to power in Tamil Nadu after nearly six decades. The party last led the state under Chief Minister M Bhakthavatsalam between 1963 and 1967, before the DMK under CN Annadurai swept to power in the landmark 1967 election.Traditionally, the Dravidian majors, the DMK and AIADMK, have not accommodated alliance partners in government despite electoral tie-ups over the years.On Wednesday, senior TVK leader and Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna had publicly invited the Congress, VCK and IUML to join the government, saying it reflected chief minister Vijay’s wish.Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the Cabinet induction had created strong political momentum for the alliance.“With Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate, this alliance can sweep all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry seat in 2029,” he said.Responding to questions on the government’s stability, Tagore dismissed criticism from opposition parties.“The TVK government is stable. Those rejected by the people will continue making such claims,” he said.Newly sworn-in minister Ramesh from Srirangam said Vijay had quietly ushered in a political transformation by giving opportunities to people without political lineage.“Earlier, only those with influential backgrounds could rise in politics. Today, youngsters without any political backing have become MLAs and ministers,” he said.Under Article 164(1A) of the Constitution, the size of a state Cabinet cannot exceed 15 per cent of the strength of the Assembly. With the Tamil Nadu Assembly having 234 members, the state can have a maximum of 35 ministers, including the chief minister.While a 10-member Cabinet led by Vijay took oath on May 10, the induction of 23 more ministers on May 21 has taken the total strength to 33, leaving room for only two more ministers.According to official sources, one representative each from the VCK and IUML may be inducted later, while the possibility of rebel AIADMK MLAs joining the Cabinet appears unlikely. Go to Source
