Panneerselvam given Jayalalithaa's portfolios, DMK welcomes move

Opposition party DMK on Wednesday welcomed Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao allocating portfolios held by hospitalised Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to Finance Minister O Panneerselvam, saying the move would augur well for the state's administration.

 "As the Opposition Leader, I welcome this action taken by the Governor in the interest of the administrative welfare of the state," DMK Treasurer M K Stalin said. 

He pointed out that the decision had been taken as per the advice of the Chief Minister herself and said Tamil Nadu was "surrounded' by inter-state water rows like Cauvery and Mullaperiyar.

 While the Cauvery issue, involving Karnataka, was coming up before the Supreme Court on October 17, the North East Monsoon was due to set in soon and at such a time there has to be "a responsible cabinet to discuss such administrative issues", he said in a statement. 

"Such a cabinet needs a head. Only then can decision on issues pertaining to the state's welfare can be taken," Stalin added.

 He recalled that DMK had earlier demanded that the government name an interim or Deputy Chief Minister to effectively handle issues like the Cauvery dispute, till the time Jayalalithaa returned and resumed work.