In a sudden development Wednesday, revenue minister K. A. Sengottaiyan was sacked from the state cabinet, where he held the number-three position after chief minister J. Jayalalithaa and finance minister O. Panneerselvam.
A Raj Bhavan communiqué said the Governor has accepted the chief minister’s recommendation to drop Sengottaiyan from the ministry and to appoint Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam,Perundurai MLA, in his place. The swearing-in of the new minister will be held at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday.
It was apparent that Mr Sengottaiyan has incurred the wrath of his high command. A statement from Ms Jayalalithaa in her capacity as AIADMK general secretary earlier in the day announced that Sengottaiyan was relieved from the important party post as the headquarters secretary.
According to sources, the loyalist from Gobichettipalayam (Erode district) had some personal issues.
They said even in her meeting with the party MPs and MLAs held at the AIADMK headquarters during the day in connection with the Presidential poll, Ms Jayalalithaa had stressed the importance of purity in public life.