Tamil Nadu cabinet expanded as more legislators join Vijay-led ministry
According to a Lok Bhavan release ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, a total of 23 MLAs, including 2 from the Congress, are scheduled to be sworn in
Nearly two weeks after forming the government, the maiden TVK cabinet was expanded on Thursday with the scheduled inclusion of 23 new members, including two Congress MLAs, in the C Joseph Vijay-led ministry.
The swearing-in ceremony was under way at the Lok Bhavan since 10 am, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administering the oath of office to the minister-designates. TVK MLAs, including Srinath, S Kamali, C Vijayalakshmi and RV Ranjithkumar were initially sworn in as ministers.
According to a Lok Bhavan release ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, a total of 23 MLAs, including two from the Congress, are scheduled to be sworn in.
The Cabinet expansion marks the Congress' return to government in Tamil Nadu after decades as the Dravidian majors--DMK and AIADMK--have never accommodated allies, including the national party that has aligned with both the parties at different points of time.
The first non-Congress government in post-independent India was ushered in by Dravidian stalwart and DMK founder CN Annadaurai in 1967 when he led the party to a stupendous win against the then ruling Congress.
On Thursday, Congress legislators S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan will take oath as ministers, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal had said on Wednesday.
