TN Governor reallocates portfolios among Ministers

Chennai, Feb 13 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala today reallocated portfolios of five Ministers in the Karunanidhi Cabinet.

According to a communique from the Raj Bhavan, the Governor reallocated certain subjects ''temporarily'' among Ministers on the advice of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

This was the first change in the porfolios effected by Mr Karunanidhi after the DMK Government assumed power in May last.

Under this, additional charges were given to senior Ministers Duraimurugan, K Ponmudi and A V Velu while another senior Minister Ko Si Mani was divested of his Co-operation portfolio.

Mr Mani was instead allocated Statistics and Ex-Servicemen.

Food Minister Velu would hold the additional charge of Co-operation, the release said.

Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi, who was divested of Welfare of Ex-Servicemen, was allocated Mines and Minerals, hitherto held by the Chief Minister.

Mr Ponmudi was now redesignated as Minister of Higher Education, Mines and Minerals.

The portfolios of Law and Courts, hitherto held by Revenue Minister I Periasamy, was re-allocated to Public Works Minister Duraimurugan.

While Mr Duraimurugan was redesignated as Minister for Public Works and Law, Mr Periyasamy was redesignated as Minister for Revenue and Prison.

UNI