Jaya shuffles bureaucracy

Chennai Police Commissioner T Rajendran had to go first on Tuesday evening, for being allegedly responsible for the ‘poor traffic arrangements’ for the new AIADMK ministry’s swearing-in that resulted in even Governor S S Barnala arriving 30 minutes late at the venue. Cuttack-born Debendranath Sarangi, a 1977 batch IAS officer has been appointed the new chief secretary of the state. He succeeds S Malathi.

Jayalalitha has also replaced Home Secretary K Gnanadesikan with Sheela Rani Chunkath.  Chunkath has now been posted as principal secretary to the  government - home, prohibition and excise department. This is a pivotal post as much of the revenue Tamil Nadu was getting in the last five years of DMK rule was from the sale of liquor which financed its range of freebies.

Effecting these changes is in tune with Jayalalitha’s overall approach to accord top most priority to restoring law and order and the State’s economy.The opposition to Amma beginning to work from the Old Secretariat complex here has intensified even as the old Assembly hall in Fort St George is getting ready for the new MLAs to take oath.