TN Cabinet reshuffle done for administrative reasons, says CM Stalin at Hyundai MoU signing event

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday said the Cabinet reshuffle by allocating the finance portfolio, which was held by Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, to Minister Thangam Thennarasu was carried out only for administrative reasons. He exuded hope that newly inducted minister T R B Rajaa, who has been assigned the Industries portfolio, would give impetus to industrial development in the state.

Though certain ministers' portfolios have been changed, the Tamil Nadu government's support for industrial growth will continue, the Chief Minister said at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyundai Motor India (HMI) for an investment of Rs 20,000 crore over the next 10 years towards developing an electric vehicle ecosystem in the state.

Thennarasu, who had overseen the Industries department till now, was made the Finance Minister today while Thiaga Rajan was given the Information Technology department.


A Raj Bhavan official release said Thiaga Rajan would helm the IT and Digital Services department. The IT department portfolio was previously handled by Mano Thangaraj, who has now been assigned Milk and Dairy Development department. S M Nasar, who held the Milk portfolio, was dropped from the Cabinet on May 9.

"The portfolio reallocation (of five ministers) is for administrative reasons and the government's support for the department and industrial growth will continue," the Chief Minister said and claimed that the MoU with the leading car manufacturer was a testimony to the concerted steps the DMK government has been taking since the reign of former chief minister M Karunanidhi to promote industrial growth.

"Minister Thennarasu and the Industries department officials had visited several states in India and various countries to fetch investment to Tamil Nadu. I appreciate them for their efforts. I am sure Rajaa, who has taken charge as the new Industries Minister, will perform well to attract more investment to the state and my best wishes to him," Stalin said.

An MoU was exchanged by Hyundai Motor India Limited MD and CEO Unsoo Kim and MD & CEO Guidance Tamil Nadu V Vishnu, in the presence of the Chief Minister, and Ministers Thennarasu and Raaja and senior officials. The South Korean car maker, through its subsidiary HMI, will also set up a battery pack assembly unit with an annual capacity of 1,78,000 units and install 100 EV charging stations across the state.

It plans to step up its total production volume in the country to 8,50,000 per year and introduce new electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from its factory in Sriperumbudur, besides modernise its plant at Irungattukottai to manufacture new car models.