Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India]: Amid reports of an imminent reshuffle of the Cabinet led by him, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin told reporters that he does not have any such information.
There were reports in the local media that the DMK-led government might announce a Cabinet reshuffle today dropping a few names and inducting a few fresh ones.
When reporters asked about some information being received about the possible Cabinet reshuffle, the Chief Minister in a brief reply said, “I have not received any such information.”
There have been reports about the elevation of Stalin’s son and Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi as Deputy Chief Minister. Reacting to the reports, the Chief Minister earlier said that the time was not yet ripe for the elevation.
When asked about Union Minister L Murugan’s statement that the recent function to launch the coin commemorating the birth centenary of the late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was organised by the state government, Stalin said, “the Tamil Nadu government organised the event which was under the control of the Central government.”
The function was attended by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and he praised Karunanidhi effusively. Stalin said that Rajnath Singh spoke highly about Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) in a manner that not even our alliance party leaders or for that matter our DMK men would have spoken.
Rajnath Singh’s participation in the commemorating coin launch function led AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to allege that DMK has a secret alliance with the BJP. He asked why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not invited to the function.
Stalin rejected the allegation saying that DMK is under no compulsion to have a secret alliance with the BJP.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, MK Stalin inaugurated 19 projects with investments of Rs 17,616 crore and laid the foundation stone for 28 projects worth Rs 51,157 crore. According to the Tamil Nadu CM’s office, a total of 1,06,803 new jobs are being created which is driving equitable development across the state.