BackJayalalithaa still a chief minister, but O. Panneerselvam will do her job
Along with his existing portfolios, O. Panneerselvam will also handle ministries which were looked after by Jayalalithaa before she was hospitalized on 22 September
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Chennai: O.Panneerselvam will handle all the portfolios of the Tamil Nadu chief minister J.Jayalalithaa, said a release from the Raj Bhavan late on Tuesday. Jayalalithaa will continue as the chief minister without portfolio.
The 68-year-old has been hospitalized since 22 September.
“Under Clause(3) of Article 166 of the constitution of India, his Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu today (11.10.2016) allocated the subjects hitherto dealt with by Hon’ble chief minister Selvi J. Jayalalithaa to Thiru. O.Pannerselvam, minister of finance, personnel & administrative reforms," said the release from the governor’s office, Chennai.
Along with his existing portfolios, O. Panneerselvam will also handle public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, general administration, district revenue officers, police and home, which were looked after by Jayalalithaa.
The statement also said: “The arrangement has been made as per the advice of the Hon’ble chief minister and will continue until the Hon’ble chief minister Selvi J.Jayalalithaa resumes her duties." Jayalalithaa, will continue as the chief minister, it said.
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Last week, the Apollo Hospitals where the chief minister is admitted, said that she will need a “longer stay at the hospital".
A release from the Apollo Hospitals, on Monday, said, Jayalalitha “is being constantly monitored by intensivists and other consultants in the expert panel" and “continues to be under treatment".
“Necessary respiratory support, antibiotics, nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are being given," a bulletin said. The 68-year old was undergoing treatment for lung decongestion, according to a bulletin released on Saturday.
This move by the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was anticipated after the chief secretary P.Rama Mohana Rao along with ministers O.Pannerselvam and Edapaddi Palaniswami met with the governor on Friday and discussed the"general administration" of the state.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu governor meets chief secretary and ministers
While the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M.Karunanidhi on Monday said in a statement that Tamil Nadu lacks “proper direction" and mentioned that the Cauvery issue requires immediate attention, M.K. Stalin, DMK treasurer and leader of opposition, has been pressing that an “interim arrangement" be made until, the AIADMK supremo recovers.
A minister without a portfolio means s/he will not have a department to handle or an office to attend. But s/he will be entitled to all perks of the perks associated with a ministerial member.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu govt lacking direction as Jayalalithaa is in hospital: Karunanidhi
For instance, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is a CM without a portfolio. In Nehru’s cabinet, V.K. Krishna Menon was first inducted as a minister without a portfolio and was later given the charge of defence ministry. Others like Mamata Banerjee, K. Chandra Shekhar Rao and Natwar Singh were ministers without portfolios in the respective union cabinets where they were admitted, although for brief periods.
Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK won the assembly elections in May, by winning a second term in office in a state where such a feat has not been achieved in nearly three decades. Jayalalithaa took oath as a chief minister on 23 May.
Nidheesh M.K. from Bengaluru contributed to the story
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