Jayalalithaa replaces three ministers

Chennai: Chief minister Jayalalithaa on Monday shunted three ministers out of the state cabinet and inducted as many besides reshuffling the portfolios of a few others.

Agriculture minister S. Damodaran, labour minister K.T. Pachamal and minister for revenue B.V.Ramana have been dropped from the council of ministers while S.S. Krishnamoorthy, S.P. Velumani and Gokula Indira have been re-inducted into the council, a release said.

While MLA S.S. Krishnamoorthy designated as minister for agriculture will be handling agriculture, agricultural engineering, agro service cooperatives, horticulture and agro-related portfolios, MLA S.P. Velumani has been designated as minister for municipal administration and rural development and MLA Gokula Indira has been made minister for handlooms and textiles, according to the release.

MLA KP Munusamy who was earlier minister for municipal administration and rural development has been re-designated as minister for labour.

Sports development and youth welfare minister R. B. Udhayakumar has been re-designated as minister for revenue while Dr S. Sundararaj who is presently minister for handloom and textiles will now be minister for sports and youth welfare, a communiqué from Raj Bhavan stated.