It’s surprising that reallocation order was based on Jaya’s advice: Karunanidhi

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, Oct  12, 2016 : DMK President M Karunanidhi on Wednesday said it was ‘surprising’ to know that the portfolio reallocations to finance minister O Panneerselvam were carried out based on chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s advice.

 

In a statement issued in Chennai, Karunanidhi said, ‘some people are asking whether Jayalalithaa personally signed and approved the portfolio changes.’

According to a Raj Bhavan statement, on Tuesday, acting Governor Vidyasagar Rao had, under Clause (3) of the Constitution’s Article 166, allocated the departments handled by Jayalalithaa to Panneerselvam on her advice.

Jayalalithaa held the portfolios of Public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, and Home.

Panneerselvam was also asked to preside over the cabinet meetings.

“This arrangement has been made as per the advice of Hon’ble chief minister and will continue until the Hon’ble chief minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa resumes her duties. Selvi J Jayalalithaa will continue to be the chief minister,” the Raj Bhavan statement said.

Karunanidhi questioned whether Rao had enough time to analyse various provisions of the Constitution in a short span of time.

He also said ‘a former AIADMK MP’ had herself recently raised doubts that ‘some people around Jayalalithaa may forge her signature to nominate a deputy general secretary to the party and to run the government’.

Though many had raised similar doubts, the ruling party has not come up with proper explanations, Karunanidhi said.

Earlier, former AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa who was expelled from the party had demanded a CBI inquiry into circumstances that resulted in Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa falling ill.

Pushpa has also demanded an inquiry into the CM’s close aide Sasikala Natarajan’s income and properties.On Tuesday, Congress’ state unit President S Thirunavukkarasar, reacting to reallocation of the portfolios, told IANS that it “is a welcome development for the continued functioning of the government”.

He said the situation is similar to the one that existed when AIADMK founder, the late M G Ramachandran (MGR), was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in October 1984.

Senior AIADMK leader C Ponnaiyan told IANS that the portfolios handled by MGR were then allocated to senior party leader V R Nedunchezian. According to Ponnaiyan, MGR in 1984 had orally instructed that his portfolios are to be handled by Nedunchezhiyan.

“As per the rules, the Chief Minister can orally tell any one or more cabinet colleagues to handle the portfolios. This is the practice followed across the country,” he said.

According to him, there is no provision in the Constitution for an acting chief minister.

Speaking to IANS, political commentator Maalan Narayanan said that in 1984, the then Governor Sundar Lal Khurana asked then finance minister Nedunchezhiyan to preside over the cabinet meetings and not to take any policy decisions.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Subramaniyam Swamy had demanded imposition of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu, alleging “administrative disarray” in the state.

The 68-year-old Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on September 22 for fever and dehydration.

The doctors later said she needed a longer stay at the hospital as she was suffering from infection, and put her on respiratory support.

On October 8, the hospital said: “The respiratory support is closely watched and adjusted. Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are under way.”

The ruling AIADMK has ruled out the need for an acting or temporary chief minister. Panneerselvam has earlier served as chief minister when Jayalalithaa had to step down in wake of her conviction by a Bengaluru court in a corruption case. She returned to the post after the Karnataka high court acquitted her.

On October 7, Governor Rao met Panneerselvam and Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao to discuss the Cauvery water issue and the General Administration in the state in the wake of Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation.