Tamil Nadu Cabinet expansion: IUML's Shahjahan, VCK's Vanni Arasu sworn in as ministers

AM Shahjahan and Vanni Arasu, belonging to the IUML and VCK respectively were sworn in as ministers in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Friday in a simple ceremony held at the Lok Bhavan.

In the presence of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Shahjahan who won from Papanasam Assembly constituency and Vanni Arasu, who emerged victorious from Tindivanam segement 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.

On Thursday, CM Vijay expanded his Council of Ministers by inducting 23 Ministers, including two from the Congress, taking the strength of his Cabinet to 33.

The CM allotted one berth each to the VCK and the IUML MLAs who took oath today. This leaves no room to accommodate any splinter AIADMK group in the future.

S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan were the Congress MLAs who were sworn-in as Ministers. This is the first time that the Congress has joined the government in Tamil Nadu since 1967 when it was thrown out of power by the then fledgling DMK.

Vijay has done a fine balancing act in the Ministry by inducting seven Dalit Ministers, a record number, and two from the Brahmin community.

27-year-old S Kamali, a private school teacher who defeated Union Minister of State L Murugan from Avinashi, D Lokesh Tamilselvan, son of AIADMK veteran and former Tamil Nadu Speaker P Dhanabal, Gandhiraj, and Tennarasu have given a chance from the community, while Viswanathan is also a Dalit. The number will go up to eight when VCK’s Vanni Arasu joins the Cabinet.

(With PTI, DHNS inputs)