Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has made significant changes in a major cabinet reshuffle, removing three ministers and appointing new faces to key positions. Mano Thangaraj, Senji Mastan, and Ramachandran were removed, while Senthil Balaji, Nasser, Govi Chezhian, and Rajendran were appointed new ministers. The reshuffle also saw the reallocation of portfolios among some senior ministers, sparking speculation and criticism over the reasons behind the changes.
Key Ministerial Changes
One of the most notable moves was the reallocation of the Higher Education Department from senior minister K. Ponmudi, who has been reassigned as Forest Minister. The decision comes after Ponmudi’s public criticism of the Tamil Nadu Governor, including an incident in which he told the governor to “go outside” during an assembly session. Sources within the DMK and the Secretariat suggested to Dinamalar that Ponmudi’s confrontational stance with the Governor and concerns about the state of higher education in Tamil Nadu led to the reshuffle. Several universities are reportedly struggling with funding and appointments of Vice-Chancellors, which raised concerns about the future of the state’s education system. The move is seen as restoring peace between the state government and the governor.
Mano Thangaraj’s Removal
Mano Thangaraj’s removal from the cabinet has also drawn attention. Thangaraj made crass comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media during the Sengol installation. On 28 May 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament building and installed the historic Sengol while Tamil Aadhenams sang Thevaaram songs inside the parliament.
Priests and Aadheenams performed special poojas before the Sengol was installed in the parliament. PM Modi, before receiving the Sengol from Aadhenams, prostrated before it as a mark of respect and to reflect Indian culture and tradition. While the image of PM Modi prostrating in front of the Sengol was widely circulated on social media, DMK Minister for Milk and Dairy Development Mano Thangaraj made disparaging remarks about PM Modi. Sharing the image on his Twitter handle, Minister said, “Is he dead? (Is he breathing?), does he have dignity and self-esteem?”
According to party insiders, Thangaraj also allegedly failed to manage the dairy development portfolio adequately. Complaints of internal conflicts with local party leaders in Nagercoil, coupled with allegations of his involvement in covering up a recent controversy over diluted milk, were reportedly brought to the Chief Minister’s attention by a young IAS officer. These factors led to his dismissal from the cabinet.
Gingee Masthan’s Dismissal
Gingee Masthan, the former minister of minority welfare, faced scrutiny after Tamil Nadu BJP leader K. Annamalai released a controversial photo showing Mastan feeding cake to a liquor dealer. Further allegations of his family’s involvement in party affairs, government job appointments, and a significant investment in shrimp farming led to his removal. Masthan lost his district secretary position due to similar controversies two months ago. He has now been replaced by Nasser, who returns to the cabinet to oversee minority welfare.
Ramachandran’s Exit
Tourism Minister Ramachandran was removed from the cabinet due to his reported underperformance in the department and poor relations with party members. His replacement has yet to be announced, but sources suggest to Dinamalar that the changes were driven by his inability to work effectively with colleagues. Meanwhile, Minister Kayalvizhi was reassigned from the Adi Dravidian Welfare Department to Human Resource Management, reportedly due to complaints of her husband’s excessive involvement in departmental affairs.
Political Implications
The reshuffle also seems to have been influenced by complaints from various communities about representation in the cabinet. PMK founder Ramadoss had recently criticized the DMK government for neglecting the Vanniyar community, which holds 23 MLAs but only three ministerial posts. In response, Rajendran, from the Vanniyar community, was given a ministerial position. Similarly, Govi Chezhian, from the Adi Dravidar community, has also been appointed, reflecting efforts to balance caste-based representation.
Senthil Balaji Returns
Another key development in the reshuffle was the reappointment of Senthil Balaji, who will oversee the power sector. Balaji’s return to the cabinet comes amid expectations of significant changes in managing the state’s energy policies.
The cabinet reshuffle, though anticipated, has triggered a wave of reactions from political analysts and party members alike. While Chief Minister Stalin assured reporters that the reshuffle would not lead to disappointment, removing key figures and reallocating portfolios has stirred debate over the underlying causes and future implications for Tamil Nadu’s governance. The DMK leadership’s balancing act between community representation, party unity, and governance challenges remains in the spotlight as the new ministers take on their roles.
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