DMK Cabinet Reshuffle: Mostly Cosmetic Changes As Son Udhayanidhi And Senthil Balaji Rise

Chief Minister M K Stalin recently conducted a cabinet reshuffle, making his son Udhayanidhi Stalin the deputy chief minister and reinducting Senthil Balaji into the ministry.

Balaji, recently released on bail, got back both his portfolios — Excise and Electricity.

Amongst the moves that have attracted attention are the change in K Ponmudy’s portfolio from Higher Education to Forests and the dropping of Mano Thangaraj (Dairy minister) and Gingee Masthan (minorities). 

Others whose portfolios were shuffled include V Meyyanathan, N Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, M Mathiventhan and R S Rajakannappan.

However, a close look would show that these are mostly cosmetic changes.

While there were complaints against some of these ministers, it was not as if there was widespread expectation about dropping them or changing their portfolios. This was because the party had stood by them in the thick of the storm.

Ponmudi was promptly re-inducted into the cabinet and his portfolio (Higher Education) was restored after his conviction in a disproportionate assets case was stayed by the Supreme Court. This was just a few months ago, i.e., in March 2024.

While Thangaraj, an MLA from Padmanabhapuram in Kanyakumari district was under scrutiny due to issues like his alleged involvement in the illegal transport of minerals to Kerala, shortages in milk supply by the state-owned Aavin, discontinuation of the popular 'Green Magic' milk packet, and allegations of reduced fat content in the orange packet, there were graver charges against Masthan.

He was accused of being linked to Maruvur Raja, alleged to be one of the important suppliers of the illicit liquor that caused the hooch tragedies in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts.

Masthan's replacement, S M Nasar, does not enjoy a great image either. In a video that went viral in January 2023, Nasar (then the Dairy minister) was seen throwing a stone at DMK workers for delay in bringing chairs.

A few months before that incident, he had wrongly claimed that the milk price had increased because the union government had imposed a Goods and Services Tax (GST) on milk.

'Dalit Anger' Taken Into Consideration?

The unhappiness of Dalits with the DMK, which manifested in the outrage after the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party chief K Armstrong coupled with alliance partner Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi's (VCK) recent belligerent talk could have pushed the party to give more representation to Dalits, say political commentators.

The DMK's whip in the state assembly, Govi Chezhian, has the prestigious Higher Education portfolio in place of Ponmudi, a very senior party leader.

While the DMK is likely to use this to portray the reshuffle as an effort towards 'social justice' (highest ever number of Dalit ministers) along with a recognition of 'performance,' make no mistake, the entire ceremony remains more for the elevation of Udhayanidhi and bringing Balaji back into the scheme of things.

The changes are surface-level at best.

Also Read: Money, Political Posturing, And Kongu Campaign Management: Why DMK Is Likely To Make Senthil Balaji A Minister Again