Tamil Nadu CM Stalin says there will be change in Cabinet
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, upon returning to Chennai from a two-week tour of the U.S. on September 14, 2024, confirmed that changes in the State Cabinet are forthcoming.
Image credit:- thehindu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, upon returning to Chennai from a successful 17-day trip to the United States on September 14, 2024, confirmed that changes in the state cabinet are forthcoming. This announcement comes just weeks before the ruling DMK party is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Stalin's remarks echo his earlier statement made before embarking on his US tour, where he had hinted at the inevitability of change. The chief minister's US visit, aimed at attracting investments to Tamil Nadu, yielded promising results, with the state government signing 19 MoUs worth Rs 7,618 crores with companies, including 18 Fortune 500 firms. These investments are expected to generate over 11,500 jobs in various sectors across the state.
The impending cabinet reshuffle is seen as a strategic move by the DMK leadership to strengthen the party's second-rung leadership and counter the potential entry of popular Tamil actor Vijay into politics ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections.
Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, who currently holds the portfolios of youth welfare, sports development, special programme implementation, and poverty alleviation, is expected to be assigned additional responsibilities, possibly including the municipal administration, rural development, and panchayat raj departments.
There has been growing speculation about Udhayanidhi's potential elevation to the position of deputy chief minister, although Stalin himself had previously stated that the time was not yet ripe for such a move. However, with the recent cabinet meetings at the DMK headquarters, it appears that the party leadership has reached a consensus on the matter, and an announcement is imminent.
The cabinet reshuffle is also expected to involve the shuffling of portfolios among existing ministers, with senior minister K.N. Nehru likely to be given the mines and minerals department, currently held by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) general secretary Durai Murugan. The move comes in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate's letter to the state DGP regarding illegal sand mining activities in Tamil Nadu.
The upcoming cabinet changes are seen as a strategic move by the DMK to consolidate its power, address the party's internal dynamics, and position itself for the next assembly elections. As the state eagerly awaits the official announcement of the cabinet reshuffle, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu is set to undergo a significant transformation in the coming weeks.
