Palaniswami inducts OPS in Cabinet, swearing in at 4.30 PM

In a post-merger reshuffle of his Cabinet, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today inducted O Panneerselvam as his Deputy.

The CM also accommodated Panneerselvam aide K Pandiarajan in the Cabinet, while re-allocating portfolios among existing ministers following the formal merger of the two factions of AIADMK.

A release from the Raj Bhavan said Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has on the recommendation of the Chief Minister inducted Panneerselvam and Pandiarajan in the state Cabinet.

The Governor has also accepted the recommendation of Palaniswami to designate O Panneerselvam as Deputy Chief Minister, it said.

"The swearing-in of the Deputy Chief Minister and the new Minister (Pandiarajan) will be held today at 4.30 PM," it said.

Panneerselvam has been allotted Finance, a portfolio held by D Jayakumar, besides Housing, Rural Housing and Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development and CMDA hitherto held by Udumalai K Radhakrishnan.

Jayakumar also holds the Fisheries portfolio and that remains with him.

Pandiarajan has been given Tamil Official language and Tamil culture, besides Archaelogy, hitherto held by Sevoor S Ramachandran and K A Sengottaiyan, respectively, the release said.