Chennai: The allotment of portfolios to newly appointed ministers in the Chief Minister Vijay-led Cabinet is yet to be announced, leading to a reported backlog of around 3,000 files awaiting ministerial signatures.
The Cabinet assumed office on May 10. Nine ministers—Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, Arunraj, Sengottaiyan, Venkataramanan, Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan, Prabhu and Keerthana—have been sworn in, but have not been assigned departments so far.
The delay is being linked to ongoing discussions on Cabinet expansion and possible inclusion of the Congress and VCK. Separately, talks are said to be under way on accommodating members from the group of 25 AIADMK MLAs led by C.V. Shanmugam, who supported the government during the majority test in the Assembly.
Officials note that the election Model Code of Conduct had been in force since March and was lifted on May 6 after vote counting. In the period since then and after the government took office, files related to various works have been prepared across departments, but can move to the next stage—including fund allocation—only after ministers sign them.
With the Assembly expected to convene within the next 10 days with the Governor’s address, followed by the budget, debates and grant demands, the absence of portfolio allocation is also said to be delaying review meetings and routine administrative work. The report says there is a growing call for the Chief Minister to issue orders to allot departments to ensure uninterrupted governance.
