Six ministers dropped in TN Cabinet rejig

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday dropped six Ministers from her Cabinet and inducted six new faces. Besides, Jayalalithaa also reshuffled the portfolios of a few ministers and gave additional portfolios to a couple of ministers.  M Paranjothi, who defeated former Transport Minister K N Nehru in the recent by-election to the Tiruchy West Assembly constituency, has been rewarded with a ministerial berth. The new ministers are likely to assume office within a few days.The ministers dropped were: Rural Industries Minister C Shanmugavelu, Information Technology Minister RB Udhayakumar, HR and CE Minister SP Shanmuganathan, Animal Husbandry Minister NR Sivapathi, Information Minister G Senthamizhan and Food Minister Budhichandiran.The six new faces and their portfolios are: S Damodaran,  Kinathukadavu constituency (Agriculture), R Kamaraj, Nannilam constituency (Food), Dr S Sundararaj, Paramakudi constituency (SC — Handlooms and Textiles), M Paranjothi, Tiruchy West constituency (HR and CE, Law), V Moorthy, Madhavaram constituency (Milk and Dairy Development) and KT Rajenthra Bhalaji, Sivakasi constituency (Information and Special Programme Implementation).KA Sengottaiyan, number three in the Cabinet and so far in charge of Agriculture will be Minister for Information Technology, while MC Sampath holding Special Programme Implementation will take over as Minister for Rural Industries. TKM Chinnayya, who was looking after Environment, will assume charge as Minister for Animal Husbandry, while BV Ramanaa, who was holding Handlooms and Textiles portfolio, will now look after Environment and Pollution Control. Social Welfare Minister Selvi Ramajayam has been given additional charge of Welfare of the Differently-abled and Social Reforms.