New Minister appointed in TN Cabinet

Chennai, Oct 25 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today inducted former Minister 'Pongalur' N Palanisamy into the Cabinet.

Mr Palanisamy, elected from Coimbatore East in the May Assembly polls, was designated Minister for Rural Industries, a portfolio hitherto held by power Minister Arcot N Veerasamy.

Mr Palanisamy served as Forest Minister during the previous DMK regime in 1996-2001.

The strength of the Cabinet remained at 31 as no one was appointed after the death of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P T R Palanivel Rajan.

When the new goverment assumed office in May, Mr Palanisamy did not find a place in the Cabinet because of the party's unimpressive performance in Coimbatore district in the polls.

Now, with the ruling DMK-led DPA capturing Coimbatore Corporation and other local bodies in the district, Mr Palanisamy was rewarded with a Cabinet berth, party sources said.

A Raj Bhavan communique here said the Governor allocated/ reallocated portfolios of some Ministers as per the recommendations of the Chief Minister.

Wasteland Development, so far held by Housing and Slum Clearance Minister Subha Thangavelan, was reallocated to Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S Arumugam. Personnel and Administrative Reforms, held by Mr Karunanidhi, was reallocated to Mr Veerasamy.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new Minister would be held soon.

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