TN Cabinet: All but one new faces, Cong makes comeback to power

In its maiden expansion, the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK Cabinet on Thursday accommodated 23 new legislators, including two from Congress, setting history of sorts where the national party became a part of the government in Tamil Nadu for the first time in about 60 years, after losing out to the DMK in 1967.

Here is a look at some snippets regarding the Cabinet expansion and the swearing-in ceremony.

--VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, State Secretaries of CPI (M) and CPI, P Shanmugam and M Veerapandian, former Speaker P Dhanapal were among those who attended the swearing-in ceremony.

-As many as 7 ministers are from Chennai. They are Chief Minister Vijay (Perambur) N Anand (T Nagar), Adhav Arjyna (Villivakkam), Venkatramanan (Mylapore), Rajmohan (Egmore) N Marie Wilson (RK Nagar) and R Kumar (Velachery).

--Former AAIADMK leader and ex-Speaker D Dhanapal's son D Logesh Tamilselvan, elected from Rasipuram (SC), has become Minister for Commercial Taxes.

--The district-wise representation is as follows-- Kanchipuram (2), Coimbatore (2), Erode (2), Madurai (2), Virudhunagar (2), Thoothukudi (2), Chengelpet (1), Ranipet (1), Cuddalore (1), Salem (1), Namakkal (3) Tiruchirappalli (1), Pudukottai (1), Thanjavur (1), Sivaganga (1), Ramanathapuram (1) and Kanniyakumari (1).

--Barring senior leader and Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan, a former AIADMK veteran, all the other 32 ministers including the chief minister are first time MLAs and ministers. In total, there are four women ministers.

--Districts including Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruppattur, Villupuram, Tiruvannamlai, Nilgiris, Ariyalur, Nagappattinam, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai have no ministers either due to non-availability of TVK MLAs or no party nominee won from such districts.

--On Cabinet expansion, Sengottaiyan said ''in the history of Tamil Nadu, young people taking up ministerial responsibility has happened only because of the goodwill and blessings of our chief minister Vijay. A coalition government is something that everyone has been expecting for a long time, and it has now become a reality.''.

--TVK general secretary and minister Anand said that ''the chief minister has given ministerial responsibilities to those who worked to serve the people.''.

--According to minister Dr K G Arunraj, ''the coalition government is going to be strong and unshakable. Certainly, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government will work hard for the people. We will not rush into politics.''.

--Hailing CM Vijay for giving importance to youth, minister Ramesh said Vijay has transformed the TN Assembly from a House of elders to a hall of youngsters. ''It will be a honest government working for the sake of all the communities, all the people and without any discrimination.''.

--IUML and VCK nominees are expected to take oath as ministers on May 22.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)