Palaniswamy, a loyalist of the now jailed AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala, took oath as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu….reports India Daily Newsdesk
Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao administered the oath of office and secrecy to Palaniswamy and his ministers at the Raj Bhavan.
Palaniswamy succeeds O. Panneerselvam, who became Chief Minister after the December 5 death of J. Jayalalithaa.
Edappadi K. Palaniswami will head a 31-member ministry.
Palaniswami has retained the crucial finance portfolio with himself. He also retained the portfolios of Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports that he had held in the earlier O. Panneerselvam ministry.
In a statement issued, the Raj Bhavan said Palaniswami will look after Public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, Police and Home, Finance Planning, Legislative Assembly Elections and Passports, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Training), Public Works, Irrigation including Minor Irrigation, Programme Works, Highways and Minor Ports.
Senior party leaders C. Sreenivasan and K.A. Sengottaiyan have been designated as Minister for Forests and Minister for School Education and Sports and Youth Welfare.
P. Thangamani is designated as Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise.