CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday dropped Minister for Milk and Dairy Development SM Nasar and inducted TRB Rajaa (46), MLA from Mannargudi Assembly constituency as the new minister. Rajaa will be sworn in by Governor RN Ravi at a simple function to be held in Raj Bhavan on May 11 at 10.30 a.m.
Nasar is the first minister to be dropped from the cabinet headed by Stalin after the DMK government assumed office. In December last, Udhayanidhi Stalin was inducted into the cabinet and there were few changes in the portfolios.
Contrary to speculations about major changes in the State Cabinet, the chief minister has changed only one minister in the cabinet. However, since the Raj Bhavan communication about the induction of Rajaa did not mention the portfolio allocated to him, there are expectations that changes in the portfolios of certain ministers may be announced on May 11.
In January, Nasar landed in a controversy when he was spotted hurling a stone at a party worker over an alleged delay in getting a chair for him. The video in this regard went viral on social media. Within a fortnight, Nasar's son Azeem Raja, was relieved from the post of secretary of the Avadi city unit of the DMK since there were some complaints about him.
Dr TRB Rajaa, son of DMK treasurer and leader of the DMK parliamentary party TR Baalu, is a part-time member of the State Planning Commission. Rajaa has been a member of the Tamil Nadu Assembly for three terms since 2011. Born on July 12, 1976, Rajaa has a doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Management from Vel's University.
Rajaa has been engaged in business, mass media marketing, deep sea fishing, farming, etc, and has a passion for technological innovations and the environment. Significantly, Rajaa created a unique helpline to address the grievances of the public and also a separate website to update and interact with the voters of Mannargudi.
Rajaa served as a member of the Committee on Public Undertakings, Committee on Estimates (2011-16), Committee on Public Accounts (2016-2021), Member of the Madras University Senate, and Member of the Tamil University. He is currently the IT wing secretary of the party.