CHENNAI:In the first reshuffle since the new government took over, cabinet minister D Jayakumar was given the charge of finance department besides a host of other portfolios, apart from fisheries that he was already holding.
“The subjects finance, planning, legislative assembly, elections and passports, personnel and administrative reforms, personnel and administrative reforms (training), hitherto dealt with by the chief minister may be reallocated to D Jayakumar,” said the communique from Raj Bhavan on Thursday. He has been designated as minister for fisheries, finance, and personnel and administrative reforms, it added.
Jayakumar is from north Chennai, the stronghold of veteran leader E Madhusudanan who had joined O Panneerselvam in revolting against interim general secretary VK Sasikala. Importantly, the RK Nagar constituency that fell vacant after the death of late leader J Jayalalithaa falls in this area.
He was elevated ahead of seniors, including leader of the House, K A Sengottaiyan, who returned to the Cabinet as school education minister in place of ousted rebel, K Pandiarajan. Interestingly, rebels had floated Jayakumar’s name as one of those about to switch camps, but he stuck with the Sasikala faction all through. A reshuffle was imminent as Chief Minister K Palanisamy has been holding a large number of portfolios.