Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Jayalalithaa sworn in CM
By Suresh Nambath

Jayalalithaa being sworn in Chief Minister by the Governor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao, in Chennai on Saturday. - Photo: K. Gajendran

CHENNAI, MARCH 2. At a gala ceremony complete with arches, horses and royal regalia, the AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalithaa, was today sworn in Chief Minister by the Governor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao.

Along with her, 26 ministers took the oath of office, making the team the biggest in recent times and equal to the size which obtained during the first Jayalalithaa regime.

Ms. Jayalalithaa took the oath in the name of God after personally introducing all her Cabinet colleagues to the Governor. This is the third government to take office after the May 2001 general election in which the AIADMK won a majority. Later talking to reporters, Ms. Jayalalithaa denied that her Cabinet was oversized. Claiming that the present size was intended for ``efficient administration'', she said it had nothing to do with the financial situation. There were 30 districts, and if each minister supervised one district, the Government would still be short by three ministers.

Asked about her dropping ministers frequently, Ms. Jayalalithaa said it was the prerogative of the Chief Minister. It was not proper to raise such questions, she said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa signed three files during her first visit to the Secretariat after assuming office. The first related to drinking water supply for all districts, the second dealt with making Tamil Nadu a malnutrition-free State and the third concerned the March 9 Governor's address to the Assembly. The Madras University Centenary Hall, where the function was held, had only a 3,200-person capacity, but AIADMK men and sympathisers crowded the premises, roads and the nearby Chidambaram cricket stadium. Closed circuit television and giant screens ensured that all those who had gathered in the city from the districts to witness the ceremony did not return disappointed.

The outgoing Chief Minister, O. Paneerselvam, took the oath immediately after Ms. Jayalalithaa as No. 2 in the Cabinet.

Although the ministers-designate wanted to greet Ms. Jayalalithaa at the doorway, they were asked to take their seats on the dais. Ms. Jayalalithaa then walked in to a thunderous applause and almost everyone in the auditorium gave her a standing ovation.

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