Tamil Nadu CM Vijay reviews departments; White Paper to be released soon

Madurai: Tamil Nadu Minister C T Nirmal Kumar on Saturday said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is reviewing all government departments to assess their current status.

Kumar is among the nine ministers appointed by Vijay. However, the TVK government has not yet allocated portfolios to any of them.

"A comprehensive White Paper will be released based on the findings," he told reporters.


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After being sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM, Vijay criticised the previous DMK government, alleging that it had emptied the state treasury.

Vijay said a White Paper on the state's fiscal health would be released soon.

"The state is burdened with a debt of Rs 10 lakh crore. The treasury is empty. They (M K Stalin-led DMK govt) have left us with a massive financial burden," he had said.

Stating that all MLAs had returned to their respective constituencies to thank voters, Kumar said the legislators were also working with the district administration to curb drug trafficking, illegal mining and quarrying, and irregularities in TASMAC bars attached to liquor outlets.

He claimed that the law and order situation in the state was improving and said all the promises made by TVK would be fulfilled.

Replying to a question on when the monthly financial assistance scheme providing Rs 2,500 to women would be implemented, he said funds for the scheme would be allocated only during the presentation of the financial budget.

"The scheme will be implemented only after identifying the required financial resources and allocating funds in the budget," Kumar said.

When asked about the portfolios for the newly appointed ministers in the TVK government, he said the CM would decide on the matter.

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When asked why the CM had not interacted with the media so far, the minister said the Directorate of Information and Public Relations was issuing daily press releases.

Kumar added that there was no law mandating that the chief minister meet the press regularly.

"The government is transparent. Whatever information you seek will be made available," he said.