Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is set to undertake his first Cabinet reshuffle after the conclusion of the Budget session in September, with four ministers, including one from the Congress, likely to be dropped, according to a report by DT Next, citing highly placed sources.
The report said the reshuffle would be based on a confidential review of the performance and activities of ministers commissioned by the Chief Minister and prepared by Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar. Besides dropping ministers, the exercise is also expected to involve the redistribution of key portfolios.
Sources told the publication that some of the recent inductees from the AIADMK are also lobbying for Cabinet berths, which they could secure after winning the yet-to-be-announced Assembly bypolls.
According to the sources, Chief Minister Vijay had sought a comprehensive assessment of every minister’s performance, and the reshuffle would be based entirely on the findings of that report.
As part of the expected changes, Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan, Transport Minister A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister K. Jagadeshwari, and Human Resources Management Minister D. Sarathkumar are likely to be dropped from the Cabinet.
Sources further told DT Next that despite repeated warnings from the Chief Minister, serious allegations had continued to surround Viswanathan and Vijay Tamilan Parthiban. They said Jagadeshwari had come under scrutiny over allegations of violence involving party workers and alleged links with history sheeters, while Sarathkumar had faced allegations of consuming narcotic substances in a public place. According to the sources, these issues had weighed heavily in the leadership’s assessment.
The reshuffle is also expected to bring changes to ministerial portfolios. Sources said TVK ministers S. Keerthana and S. Kamali, along with Congress minister S. Rajesh Kumar, are likely to receive new portfolios. The proposed changes involving Keerthana and Kamali are reportedly based on an internal review of their administrative performance and handling of their respective departments. Rajesh Kumar, who currently holds the Tourism portfolio, is expected to be entrusted with a more prominent department.
The report also stated that Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) representative Vanni Arasu is under consideration for a Cabinet berth, although the final decision rests with the Chief Minister.
According to highly placed sources, the September reshuffle is expected to be only the first phase of a broader Cabinet reorganisation and will primarily focus on administrative considerations. A second phase, they said, is likely to be more political in nature and is expected to accommodate AIADMK leaders who resigned as MLAs before joining the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
However, the report noted that there is no clarity on the schedule for the bypolls to those vacant Assembly seats, as the matter is currently pending before the Madras High Court.
In view of the uncertainty over the bypolls, the Chief Minister has reportedly decided to proceed with the first phase of the Cabinet reshuffle after the Budget session, while the second phase will be undertaken after the elections.
Sources further indicated that another Cabinet reshuffle is expected after the bypolls, during which C. Vijayabaskar, M.R. Vijayabhaskar and Maragatham Kumaravel are among those likely to be inducted into the Cabinet.
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