VCK, IUML join TN cabinet amid ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ row and alliance friction

VCK, IUML join TN cabinet amid ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ row and alliance friction

Chennai: IUML’s A M Shahjahan and VCK’s Vanni Arasu were inducted into the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led cabinet on Friday. This takes the total number of ministers in the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly to 35, completing the final line-up of TVK’s multi-party coalition govt.

While Shahjahan has been allocated the Minority Welfare ministry, Vanni Arasu has been made minister for social justice which was earlier called ministry for Adidravida and tribal welfare. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan and IUML leader K M Kader Mohideen were also present during the swearing in ceremony held at Lok Bhavan. They later called on CM Vijay at the secretariat and thanked him for inducting the two MLAs into the cabinet.

With this, the number of dalit ministers in the TN cabinet has risen to eight. “I consider today to be the real social justice day, as the dream of Thanthai Periyar and Dr Ambedkar has come true” said State PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna. He said TVK has lived up its promise of ‘share in power and governance’ to allies.

This is the first time VCK and IUML are part of the cabinet in TN. CM Vijay had previously inducted two Congress MLAs into his council of ministers. In total, four cabinet berths are now occupied by candidates who contested the April 23 polls under the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

Arjuna said TVK never chose candidates or allotted ministries based on caste calculations. Dismissing criticism on allocating the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments portfolio to Ramesh, who hails from the Brahmin community, Arjuna said the party was not even aware of his caste until now.

Meanwhile, the ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ row refused to die down as the Tamil invocation song was played third during the swearing in on Friday too. “The Governor is firm on following the Union Govt’s circular. We are holding discussions with legal experts and planning to approach the Court regarding the issue,” PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna said later at the Secretariat over the Tamil anthem row.