DMK president MK Stalin on Friday took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at Raj Bhavan in Chennai. Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered him the oath of office and secrecy. Besides Stalin, 33 ministers also took oath today. The oath-taking ceremony will be carried out following all Covid protocols.
Stalin has retained senior leaders like Duraimurugan in the government. 15 of them are ministers for the first time. This will be the sixth time the chief minister will be from the DMK since 1967, when party founder C N Annadurai was first elected to the post. Stalin’s father M Karunanidhi held the post thereafter. On Thursday, Raj Bhavan released a statement with the list of ministers to be appointed in the new government. It said Governor Banwarilal Purohit approved the list sent by chief minister-elect Stalin. Interestingly, Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi does not figure in the list. Stalin will hold Home and other portfolios including public, general administration, all India services, district revenue officers, special programme implementation and welfare of differently abled persons, according to a release shared by the Raj Bhavan. Stalin, who assumed office as Chief Minister for the first time, said that the names of certain departments have been rechristened. It includes agriculture department which shall now be agriculture and farmers welfare.
