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By Pramod Madhav: After a considerable amount of discussion, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin approved the shuffling of the state Cabinet, and as expected, Thangam Thennarasu took charge as the finance minister, while Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), who handled the portfolio earlier, was given the information and technology department.
Though PTR’s transfer raised questions about the move’s connection with the audio tapes leaked by BJP leader Annamalai last month, where he allegedly made remarks about the assets of the DMK’s ‘first family’, Senior DMK leaders have confirmed that the decision was taken long back.
Earlier, PTR was reportedly assigned the industries portfolio, which has been now given to TRB Raja, an MLA from Mannargudi and son of DMK MP TR Baalu, a close confidant of CM MK Stalin, and who has also been his point man in Delhi.
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With TRB Raja getting an important portfolio, which was reserved for senior ministers, speculation over a change of guard in the DMK has also started.
The DMK has a history where M Karunanidhi, the former supremo of the party, made sure that his son and present CM, MK Stalin, was politically strong by selecting capable deputies such as Thuraimurugan, who is the general secretary of the party, and TR Baalu. Now, CM MK Stalin, too, is reportedly following his father’s path.
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Among the ministers in the Cabinet, swearing in of Anbil Mahesh as the school education minister was later followed by Udhayanidhi Stalin as sports minister.
However, TRB Raja becoming a minister and being handed over a heavy portfolio has only strengthened the speculation.
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