Tamil Nadu: TRB Rajaa gets into MK Stalin’s Cabinet, Dairy Development Minister Nasar dropped

The Governor has approved the recommendation and the swearing-in-ceremony of the minister-designate will be held on 11 May at the Raj Bhavan announced.This is the second reshuffle of the Stalin-led Cabinet that assumed office in 2021.

Rajaa, who is holding the post of secretary of the DMK IT Wing, was elected from Mannarkudi constituency thrice.

Upset over Nasar’s performance

Meanwhile, Nasar, a first-time MLA and minister for milk and dairy development, who was elected from the Avadi constituency, was dropped from the Cabinet.

According to sources at the DMK headquarters, the Chief Minister Stalin was upset with the performance of Nasar, especially over the disruption of milk supply to households in the state due to an issue with contract workers which he was unable to resolve.

“Further, the minister was reluctant in handling the strike announced by the Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association (TNMPWA), which sought a hike in procurement prices. There were also complaints of misappropriation of funds in (Tamil Nadu’s milk cooperative) Aavin”, the DMK functionary told South First.

There were other instances as well, the DMK leader said.

“A half-litre Aavin milk packet should weigh 520 grams; instead, the milk packets weighed only 430 grams. The Opposition parties like AIADMK and the BJP had raised the issue and alleged corruption and called it a scam. This had created a bad name for the government, hence the decision”, he added.

It may also be noted that a few months ago, a video clip of the minister pelting a stone at a worker who delayed bringing him a chair went viral on social media.

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Reallocation of portfolios

After the swearing-in ceremony on 11 May, Chief Minister Stalin is also expected to announce a major reshuffle of portfolios of the present ministers.

This is the second reshuffle of the Cabinet of the DMK government after it came to power two years ago.

In December last year, Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, was inducted into the Cabinet, and the portfolios of a few ministers, including the then transport minister Raja Kannappan, was changed.

Udhayanidhi was made Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development. He is also handling the Special Programme Implementation, Poverty Alleviation Programme, and Rural Indebtedness portfolios.

Udhayanidhi is an MLA from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency. Reacting to comments on dynasty politics, Udhayanidhi maintained that his work will be the response to his critics.

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