Jayalalithaa axes six ministers; inducts another six

CHENNAI: In a sudden move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today sacked six of her ministerial colleagues and inducted an equal number to replace them.

The axe fell on C Shamugavelu (Rural Industries), R B Udhyakumar (Information Technology), S P Shanmuganathan (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments), N R Sivapathy (Animal Husbandry), G Senthamizhan (Information, Law and Courts) and Budhichandiran (Food).

Jayalalithaa's action announced in a Raj Bhavan communique comes just five months after she returned to power in May following her AIADMK's landslide victory in the April 13 assembly elections.

Of the dropped ministers, Senthamizhan, AIADMK South Chennai district secretary, had allegedly telephoned police to release some arrested partymen.

Udhayakumar, who once stated he would not wear slippers in the secretariat as it was the living place of his 'god' (Jayalalithaa) was chided by her for his "extravagance" during her visit to Tiruchirapalli for campaigning in the bypoll.

Budhichandran faced the axe for reportedly favouring a group of Padugas, a tribal community in Nilgiris district and ignoring others. The other ministers were removed for their non-performance.

Those to be sworn-in are former AIADMK minister S Damodaran, R Kamaraj, S Sundraraj, M Paranjothi, who was recently elected to the assembly in the bye-election to Tiruchirapalli West, V Moorthy and K Rajenthra Bhalaji. The communique did not mention the date of the swearing-in.

Simultaneously, she also changed the portfolios of several ministers.