CHENNAI: Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, SP Shanmuganathan on Wednesday lost the key party post as AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa appointed new secretaries to four party districts. She also directed the cadre to extend full cooperation to the newly appointed office bearers. The new district secretaries paid a courtesy call on her.
SP Shanmuganathan has been relieved as party’s Thoothukudi district secretary. He is replaced by CT Chellapandian (59), a former Minister who unsuccessfully contested the May 16 Assembly elections.
Aimed at strengthening the party’s presence in Tiruchy ahead of the local body elections, the AIADMK high command has appointed Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natarajan as the Tiruchy urban district secretary. He replaces R Manoharan, former Chief Whip in the State Assembly. Manoharan had contested the Tiruchy West seat and lost to DMK heavyweight K N Nehru. P Narayana Perumal, party’s Tirunelveli urban district secretary has been relieved and replaced by KRP Prabhakaran (37), MP. Meanwhile, Jayalalithaa has re-organised the party districts - Tiruvallur East and Tiruvallur West.