DMK leader V. Senthil Balaji, who was days ago granted bail by the Supreme Court in a money-laundering case, was sworn in as minister by Tamil Nadu governor R.N. Ravi here on Sunday.
Balaji, 48, has been assigned the same key portfolio of "electricity, non-conventional energy development, prohibition & excise", which he held previously in the Stalin cabinet.
Three other DMK legislators — Govi Chezhiaan (Thiruvidaimarudur), R. Rajendran (Salem-North) and S.M. Nasar (Avadi) — also took the oath of office and secrecy in a simple ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan.
They were sworn-in in the presence of Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi, who had already been designated as the deputy chief minister.
Govi Cheziaan has been allotted higher education, including technical education, electronics, science and technology, which was previously held by K. Ponmudy (now minister for forests).
Soft-spoken Cheziaan, 58, a native of Thanjavur district, is an orator, party office-bearer and chief government whip, before he was appointed minister. A three-time MLA, he was first elected in 2011.
Rajendran, 65, has been allotted the tourism portfolio. Also, known as Salem Rajendran, he has been a party worker since his student days and has held various party positions, including in the youth wing. He is a lawyer and a third- time MLA.
Sixty-four-year-old Nasar, a well-known party face from Avadi here, has been made the minister for minorities welfare and non-resident Tamils welfare.
The ED had arrested Balaji, representing Karur Assembly constituency, on June 14 last year in a money-laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was transport minister during the previous AIADMK regime (2011-15).
Balaji, after a stint with T.T.V. Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, joined the DMK in 2018 and following his arrest, he was designated minister without portfolio. On February 13, the governor accepted Balaji's resignation from the council of ministers. On September 26, the Supreme Court granted bail to Balaji, ending his 471-day incarceration.
In May last year, Nasar was dropped from the cabinet. He was the milk and dairy development minister at that time.
K. Ramachandran, who was dropped from the cabinet on September 28, was on Sunday named as chief government whip. Ramachandran was previously the tourism minister.
All the four legislators made a solemn affirmation while taking the oath in Tamil.
Stalin dropped three ministers (T. Mano Thangaraj, Gingee K.S. Masthan and K. Ramachandran). Including the chief minister, the cabinet strength is 35.
Besides DMK leaders, including T.R. Baalu, leaders of DMK allies, including Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalavan and MDMK general secretary Vaiko, took part in the ceremony.
PTI