Chennai: AM Shahjahan and Vanni Arasu, legislators belonging to the IUML and VCK respectively, were sworn in as ministers by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Friday in a simple ceremony held at the Lok Bhavan here.
In the presence of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Shahjahan, who won from the Papanasam Assembly constituency and Vanni Arasu, who emerged victorious from the Tindivanam segment, took the oath of office and secrecy.
The induction of the 2 MLAs in the Cabinet led by Vijay brings the total number of ministers, including the chief minister to 35, the maximum permissible limit under the Constitution.
Friday’s ceremony was the second round of Cabinet expansion within as many days. On Thursday, Chief Minister Vijay had already inducted five TVK legislators into the government, each assigned specific portfolios.
TVK MLA B Rajkumar took charge of the Housing and Urban Development Ministry. TVK MLA Vijay Tamilan Parthiban A assumed responsibility for the Transport Ministry. TVK MLA RV Ranjithkumar was designated Forest Minister. TVK MLA V Sampath Kumar took on the Backward Classes Welfare Ministry, and TVK MLA V Gandhiraj was assigned the Co-operation Ministry.
Two Congress MLAs, S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan, also took oath as ministers in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet as part of the ongoing expansion.
Twenty-Three Ministers Allocated Portfolios After the New Government’s Formation
A total of twenty-three ministers received portfolio allocations following the formation of the new TVK-led government. The full composition of the Cabinet reflects both the governing party’s priorities and the requirements of managing a coalition arrangement with alliance partners.
