Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday announced the portfolio allocation for his first cabinet, retaining key departments including Home, Police, and General Administration, while assigning finance to veteran leader KA Sengottaiyan.
According to the official allocation cleared by the governor, Vijay will oversee the Public, General Administration, Police, Home, and Special Programme Implementation departments. He has also retained Women’s Welfare, Youth Welfare, Welfare of Children, Aged and Differently Abled Persons, along with Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply.
Political observers view the move as an attempt by Vijay to maintain direct control over welfare delivery and urban governance, especially after strong support from women and youth voters helped TVK come to power.
N Anand emerged as the second most prominent figure in the cabinet with the Rural Development and Water Resources portfolios. He will also handle Panchayats, Poverty Alleviation Programmes, and irrigation projects.
Aadhav Arjuna was assigned Public Works and Sports Development, including highways, buildings, and minor ports. The sports portfolio was previously held by former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Former IRS officer Dr KG Arunraj was given the Health, Medical Education, and Family Welfare departments.
In a major political development, expelled AIADMK leader KA Sengottaiyan was entrusted with the Finance portfolio along with pensions and pension allowances.
Selvi S Keerthana, the youngest minister and only woman in the cabinet, became Tamil Nadu’s first woman Industries Minister. She will handle Industries and Investment Promotion.
Other appointments include P Venkataramanan for Food and Civil Supplies, R Nirmalkumar for Energy and Law, Rajmohan for School Education and Tamil Development, and Dr TK Prabhu for Natural Resources and Mines.
Several major portfolios, including Transport, Agriculture, Revenue, Information Technology, Tourism, and Housing, are yet to be allocated, leading to speculation about a future cabinet expansion and possible inclusion of coalition allies.
TVK formed the government after winning 108 Assembly seats, 10 short of a majority, with outside support from allies and backing from 24 rebel AIADMK MLAs during the trust vote.