The TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu has issued directions for chairpersons of boards and commissions appointed during the previous DMK administration to resign. The move is aimed at enabling the new government to make its own appointments to key statutory bodies.
According to the report, TVK formed the government with the support of the Congress, VCK, Muslim League, CPI(M) and CPI, though the Communist parties are not part of the cabinet while other allies have ministerial representation.
The government has already begun allocating positions. Former minister K.P. Krishnan, who contested on a TVK ticket and lost in the Assembly election, has been appointed as chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board. Chief Minister Vijay is also said to have decided to offer board and commission posts to those who did not get cabinet berths, to entrants from other parties including the AIADMK, and to alliance partners.
Several DMK-era appointees have resigned following the directive, including Shankar Jiwal (Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Commission), Sunil Kumar (Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board), Manivannan (Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission) and Shivdas Meena (Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority). More resignations are reported to have been submitted.
The government has also instructed that government staff who earlier served as assistants to DMK ministers be relieved from those roles and assigned elsewhere, as many are now working with TVK ministers. TVK sources said the step was taken to prevent government information from reaching the DMK if former ministerial assistants continue in the same positions.
