At 69, MK Stalin is the oldest first-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Chennai:
DMK chief MK Stalin was sworn in as the brand new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, together with 33 members of his cupboard, by Governor Banwarilal Purohit in a easy ceremony – amid restrictions in place because of the pandemic – on the Raj Bhavan in Chennai this morning.
His spouse, Durga Stalin, who had tears of pleasure in her eyes, and son, Udhayanidhi, who made his ballot debut this 12 months and gained from Chennai’s Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat,have been amongst these current.
Additionally current was Mr Stalin’s, Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi, and ballot strategist Prashant Kishor, who masterminded the DMK’s election win.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his congratulations, writing: “Congratulations to Thiru MK Stalin on being sworn-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.”
Congratulations to Thiru @mkstalin on being sworn-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 7, 2021
Mr Stalin was additionally sworn in as House Minister and can maintain different portfolios, together with administrative and police companies, particular programmes and the welfare of otherwise abled individuals.
This will likely be Mr Stalin’s first time period; at 69, he’s the oldest first-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. His father, occasion legend M Karunanidhi, held the publish 5 occasions. A seven-time MLA and twice elected because the Mayor of Chennai, right this moment’s swearing in marks the end result of a virtually 10-year wait.
Mr Stalin takes cost because the state battles a extreme second Covid wave; this morning practically 25,000 new circumstances have been reported within the earlier 24 hours. Instances spiked throughout campaigning, as all main events held rallies at which social distancing was absent, resulting in sharp rebukes from the Madras High Court.
Containing the virus and main the state’s restoration will likely be amongst his largest challenges.
Ms Kanimozhi expressed confidence in her brother’s talents, and mentioned he had a “clear plan for containment (of the COVID-19 virus) and that will likely be his first precedence.
With 33 ministers in his cupboard, Mr Stalin has a mix of youth and expertise to name on to deal with these challenges. There are 19 former ministers in the cabinet, but only two women.
The brand new Water Sources Minister is veteran DMK chief Duraimurugan – a former minister and six-time MLA from Katpadi. The publish is a vital one for a state that’s often hit by drought.
The Finance portfolio – one other vital publish – has been given to Palanivel Thiagarajan, a former funding banker who labored in america.
It is a key appointment as a result of throughout campaigning Mr Stalin had promised Rs 4,000 in meals reduction for poor households, free bus journey for ladies and ten lakh jobs yearly.
The Well being Division – now the Medical and Household Welfare – has its work reduce out to comprise the Covid wave and is led by first-time minister MA Subramanian, who’s the ex-Chennai Mayor.
With experiences of shortages of beds, Mr Stalin has appealed to non-public hospitals to supply beds at low value. He additionally desires a battle room to assist co-ordinate demand and availability throughout districts.
S Regupathy has been given the Legislation Ministry, Thangam Thennarasu the Industries portfolio, Okay Ponmudi will likely be Greater Schooling Minister, EV Velu will head Public Works and S Muthusamy would be the Housing and City Growth Minister.
The brand new Chief Minister has additionally made adjustments to the names of a number of ministries. He has additionally not given his son Udhayanidhi Stalin – who gained from Chennai’s – a berth.
The Agriculture Ministry has develop into the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministry and will likely be led by MRK Panneerselvam, a five-term MLA from Kurinjipadi in Cuddalore district.
The Surroundings Ministry – to be headed by Siva V Meyyanathan – will now be Surroundings – Local weather Change Ministry. The Labour Welfare Ministry is now Labour Welfare and Ability Growth and will likely be led by CV Ganesan.
The NRI Division is now Non-Resident Tamils’ Welfare and has been given to Gingee KS Masthan, who has additionally acquired Minorities Welfare, Refugees and Evacuees, and the Wakf Board.
The Fisheries Ministry has been renamed Fisheries and Fisherfolk Welfare, will likely be led by Anitha R Radhakrishnan, who additionally acquired Animal Husbandry. Data and Public Relations has develop into Data Ministry, and has been given to T Mano Thangaraj.
The DMK, which led an alliance that included the Congress, swept the April 6 election, winning 159 of 234 seats. The AIADMK, which was in energy, had allied with the BJP however secured solely 75 seats.
The DMK’s victory restored the southern state’s custom of alternating between the 2 main state events each 5 years, after giving the AIADMK two consecutive phrases.