TN Governor allocates portfolios held by Jayalalithaa to Panneerselvam
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao on Tuesday allotted all portfolios held by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who has been hospitalised since September 22, to finance minister O. Panneerselvam who will also preside over cabinet meetings.
While making this announcement through a press release, Mr Rao said the “arrangement has been made as per the advice of Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa”.
The move follows strident calls for appointment of an “interim Chief Minister” from political leaders, especially the Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin, to carry out administrative duties unhindered since the Chief Minister is unwell. The Apollo Hospitals had on October 6, in a medical bulletin, said Ms Jayalalithaa would require “further stay” at the hospital since the treatment is continuing.
The Acting Governor also made it clear that Ms Jayalalithaa would continue to be the Chief Minister. “Under Clause (3) of Article 166 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Tamil Nadu today (11.10.2016) allocated the subjects hitherto dealt with by Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa, to Thiru O Panneerselvam, Minister for Finance, Personnel & Administrative Reforms,” the release from the Governor’s Office said.
“Thiru .O Panneerselvam, Minister for Finance, Personnel & Administrative Reforms will also preside over the Cabinet Meetings. This arrangement has been made as per the advice of Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa resumes her duties. Selvi J Jayalalithaa will continue to be the Chief Minister,” the release said. Interestingly, there was no media release from the Apollo Hospital on CM’s health status on Tuesday.
This is not the first time such an arrangement has been put in place when M.G. Ramachandran was hospitalised in October, 1985, the then Governor S.L. Khurana issued a notification authorising V.R. Nedunchezhian to preside over Cabinet meetings during the period of MGR’s treatment. The Governor also allocated 14 subjects that were handled by MGR to Nedunchezhian.
