The First Ministry of Palaniswami was the Council of Ministers, headed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, that was formed after the fifteenth legislative assembly election, which was held on 16th of May 2016. The results of the election were announced on 19 May 2016, and this led to the formation of the 15th Assembly. On 16 February 2017, the Council took office.[1][2]

K. Palaniswami Ministry

20th Ministry of Tamil Nadu
Head of the government
Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Date formed16 February 2017
Date dissolved7 May 2021
People and organisations
Head of stateC. Vidyasagar Rao (Till 6 October 2017)
Banwarilal Purohit (From 6 October 2017 till 7 May 2021)
Head of governmentEdappadi K. Palaniswami
Deputy head of governmentO. Paneerselvam
Status in legislatureMajority government
123 / 234 (53%)
History
Election2016
PredecessorThird Panneerselvam ministry
SuccessorStalin ministry

Constitutional requirement

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For the Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor

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According to Article 163 of the Indian Constitution,

# There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his function, except in so far as he is by or under this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion.

  1. If any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion, the decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion.
  2. The question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the Governor shall not be inquired into in any court.

This means that the Ministers serve under the pleasure of the Governor and he/she may remove them, on the advice of the Chief Minister, whenever they want.

The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and the Minister shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor:
Provided that in the States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, there shall be a Minister in charge of tribal welfare who may in addition be in charge of the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and backward classes or any other work.

# The Council of Minister shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State.

  1. Before a Minister enters upon his office, the Governor shall administer to him the oaths of office and of secrecy according to the forms set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
  2. A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the Legislature of the State shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister.
  3. The salaries and allowances of Ministers shall be such as the Legislature of the State may from time to time by law determine and, until the Legislature of the State so determines, shall be a specified in the Second Schedule.

Council of Ministers

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S.No Name Consitituency Designation Departments Party
1. K. Palaniswami Edappadi Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
2. O. Panneerselvam Bodinayakkanur Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
  • Finance.
  • Planning.
  • Legislative Assembly
  • Elections.
  • Passports.
  • Housing
  • Rural Housing and Housing Development.
  • Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control.
  • Town Planning.
  • Urban Development.
  • Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
3. C. Sreenivaasan Dindigul Minister for Forests
  • Forests.
4. K. A. Sengottaiyan Gobichettipalayam Minister for School Education and Youth Welfare & Sports
  • School Education.
  • Youth Welfare and Sports.
5. K. Raju Madurai West Minister for Co-operation
  • Co-operation.
  • Statistics.
  • Ex-Servicemen Welfare.
6. P. Thangamani Kumarapalayam Minister for Electricity and Prohibition & Excise
  • Electricity.
  • Prohibition and Excise.
  • Non-Conventional Energy.
  • Molasses
7. S. P. Velumani Thondamuthur Minister for Local Administration and Rural Development
  • Municipal Administration.
  • Rural Development.
  • Panchayats and Panchayat Unions.
  • Poverty Alleviation Programmes.
  • Rural Indebtedness.
  • Urban and Rural Water Supply.
  • Implementation of Special Programme.
8. D. Jayakumar Royapuram Minister for Fisheries
  • Fisheries.
  • Personnel.
  • Administrative Reforms.
9. C. Ve. Shanmugam Villupuram Minister for Law
  • Law.
  • Courts and Prisons.
  • Mines and Minerals.
10. K. P. Anbalagan Palacode Minister for Higher Education and Agriculture
  • Higher Education.
  • Technical Education.
  • Electronics.
  • Science and Technology.
  • Agriculture.
  • Agricultural Engineering.
  • Agro Service Co-operatives.
  • Horticulture.
  • Sugarcane Cess.
  • Sugarcane Development and Waste Land Development.
11. V. Saroja Rasipuram Minister for Social Welfare
  • Social Welfare.
  • Women's and Children's Welfare.
  • Orphanages and Correctional Administration.
  • Integrated Child Development.
12. M. C. Sampath Cuddalore Minister for Industries
  • Industries.
  • Steel Control.
13. K. C. Karuppannan Bhavani Minister for Environment
  • Environment and Pollution Control.
14. R. Kamaraj Nannilam Minister for Food & Civil Supplies
  • Food.
  • Civil Supplies.
  • Consumer Protection.
  • Price Control.
15. O. S. Manian Vedaranyam Minister for Handlooms & Textiles
  • Handlooms and Textiles.
16. K. Radhakrishnan Udumalaipettai Minister for Animal Husbandry
  • Animal Husbandry.
17. C. Vijayabaskar Viralimalai Minister for Health & Family Welfare
  • Health.
  • Medical Education.
  • Family Welfare.
18. C. Raju Kovilpatti Minister for Information & Publicity
  • Information and Publicity.
  • Film Technology and Cinematograph Act.
  • Stationery and Printing
  • Government Press.
19. R. B. Udhaya Kumar Tirumangalam Minister for Revenue and Information Technology
  • Revenue.
  • District Revenue Establishment.
  • Deputy Collectors.
  • Weights and Measures.
  • Debt Relief including Legislation on Money lending.
  • Chits.
  • Registration of Companies and Disaster Management.
  • Information Technology.
20. N. Natarajan Tiruchirappalli East Minister for Tourism
  • Tourism.
  • Tourism Development Corporation.
21. K.C. Veeramani Jolarpet Minister for Commercial Taxes & Registration
  • Commercial Taxes.
  • Registration and Stamp Act.
22. K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji Sivakasi Minister for Milk & Dairy Development
  • Milk and Dairy Development.
23. P. Benjamin Maduravoyal Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Rural Industries.
  • Small Industries.
24. M. R. Vijayabhaskar Karur Minister for Transport
  • Transport.
  • Nationalised Transport and Motor Vehicles Act.
25. Nilofer Kafeel Vaniyambadi Minister for Labour & Employment
  • Labour.
  • Population.
  • Employment and Training.
  • Newsprint Control.
  • Census.
  • Urban and Rural Employment
  • Wakf Board.
26. V. M. Rajalakshmi Sankarankoil Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare
  • Adi Dravidar Welfare.
  • Hill Tribes and Bonded Labour.
27. K. Pandiarajan Avadi Minister for Tamil Development and Archaeology
  • Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture.
  • Archaeology.
28. G. Baskaran Sivaganga Minister for Village Industries
  • Khadi and Village Industries Board.
  • Bhoodan and Gramadhan.
29. S. Ramachandran Arani Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments
  • Hindu Religious.
  • Charitable Endowments.
30. S. Valarmathi Srirangam Minister for Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare
  • Backward Classes.
  • Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.
  • Overseas Indians.
  • Refugees and Evacuees and Minorities Welfare.

Cabinet Reshuffles

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21 August 2017

S.No Name of the Minister Existing Designation Proposed Designation Proposed allocation of portfolios
1. O. Panneerselvam Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
  • Finance.
  • Planning.
  • Legislative Assembly
  • Elections.
  • Passports.
  • Housing
  • Rural Housing and Housing Development.
  • Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control.
  • Town Planning.
  • Urban Development.
  • Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
2. K. Pandiarajan Minister for Tamil Development and Archaeology
  • Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture.
  • Archaeology.
3. K. A. Sengottaiyan Minister for School Education and Youth Welfare & Sports Minister for School Education
  • School Education.
4. D. Jayakumar Minister for Finance and Fisheries Minister for Fisheries
  • Fisheries.
  • Personnel.
  • Administrative Reforms.
5. C. Ve. Shanmugam Minister for Law Minister for Law
  • Law.
  • Courts and Prisons.
  • Mines and Minerals.
6. M. C. Sampath Minister for Industries Minister for Industries
  • Industries
  • Steel Control
7. K. Radhakrishnan Minister for Housing and Urban Development Minister for Animal Husbandry
  • Animal Husbandry
8. S. Ramachandran Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments and Tamil Development Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments
  • Hindu Religious
  • Charitable Endowments
9. P. Balakrishna Reddy Minister for Animal Husbandry Minister for Youth Welfare & Sports
  • Youth Welfare and Sports.

26 March 2019

S.No Name of the Minister Existing Designation Proposed Designation Proposed allocation of portfolios
1. P. Balakrishna Reddy Minister for Youth Welfare & Sports
2. K. A. Sengottaiyan Minister for School Education Minister for School Education and Youth Welfare & Sports
  • School Education.
  • Youth Welfare and Sports.

7 August 2019

S.No Name of the Minister Existing Designation Proposed Designation Proposed allocation of portfolios
1. M. Manikandan Minister for Information Technology
2. R. B. Udhaya Kumar Minister for Revenue Minister for Revenue and Information Technology
  • Revenue.
  • District Revenue Establishment.
  • Deputy Collectors.
  • Weights and Measures.
  • Debt Relief including Legislation on Money lending.
  • Chits.
  • Registration of Companies and Disaster Management.
  • Information Technology.

31 October 2020

S.No Name of the Minister. Existing Designation Proposed Designation Proposed allocation of portfolios
1. R. Doraikannu Minister for Agriculture
2. K. P. Anbalagan Minister for Higher Education Minister for Higher Education and Agriculture
  • Higher Education.
  • Technical Education.
  • Electronics.
  • Science and Technology.
  • Agriculture.
  • Agricultural Engineering.
  • Agro Service Co-operatives.
  • Horticulture.
  • Sugarcane Cess.
  • Sugarcane Development and Waste Land Development.

Demographics of the Council of Ministers

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Cabinet by District

S.No District Ministers Name of Ministers
1. Ariyalur - -
2. Chengalpattu - -
3. Chennai 2
4. Coimbatore 1
5. Cuddalore 1
6. Dharmapuri 1
7. Dindigul 1
8. Erode 2
9. Kallakurichi - -
10. Kanchipuram - -
11. Kanniyakumari - -
12. Karur 1
13. Krishnagiri - -
14. Madurai 2
15. Mayiladuthurai - -
16. Nagapattinam 1
17. Namakkal 2
18. Nilgiris - -
19. Perambalur - -
20. Pudukkottai 1
21. Ramanathapuram - -
22. Ranipet - -
23. Salem 1
24. Sivagangai 1
  • G. Baskaran
25. Tenkasi 1
26. Thanjavur - -
27. Theni 1
28. Thoothukudi 1
29. Tiruchirappalli 2
30. Tirunelveli - -
31. Tirupathur 2
32. Tiruppur 1
33. Tiruvallur 1
34. Tiruvannamalai 1
35. Tiruvarur 1
36. Vellore - -
37. Viluppuram 1
38. Virudhunagar 1

Achievements

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The Government introduced various schemes like Kudimaramaththu Work similar to Telangana's Mission Kakatiya, FAME India scheme and Amma Patrol in Tamil Nadu to ascertain the security of women and children in public places.

In 2019, The Chief Minister went on a 13-day tour in the United States, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates to promote foreign investment in Tamil Nadu. While there he launched the Yaadhum Oore programme (lit. all countries, based on Puranauru 192) to encourage the Tamil diaspora to re-invest in Tamil Nadu.[3] During trip he secured 3 lakh crores worth of foreign investment, a greater amount than even his predecessor Jayalalithaa did.

In February 2020, Palaniswami led Tamil Nadu government declared the Cauvery delta region as a Protected Special Agriculture Zone. The announcement was widely hailed by political parties and farmers organisations.[4][5][6]

In 2020, Palaniswami led AIADMK government passed order for 7.5% Quota in Medical Admissions for Govt. School Students.[7] He took action to set up government medical colleges in newly formed 11 districts which offered 1,650 more seats to then existing 3,400 seats.[8][9]

Under this governance, Tamil Nadu was rated as the best governed state based on a composite index in the context of sustainable development according to the Public Affairs Index-2020 released by the Public Affairs Centre in Oct. 2020. Palaniswami is also praised for his administration during the coronavirus pandemic. Tamil Nadu was one of the few states that did not register negative growth in the period of pandemic.

During this regime, Tamil Nadu was the best performing big state overall from the year 2018 to 2021. With a gross state domestic product of $290 billion or Rs 21.6 lakh crore, Tamil Nadu became India's second-largest economy.[10][11][12]

In 2020, the study “States of the State” of India Today, said that Palaniswami led Tamil Nadu has topped in 11 categories from a total of 12, including economy, tourism, infrastructure, inclusive development, law and order, along with entrepreneurship, cleanliness, environment, health, education and agriculture. Tamil Nadu had been chosen for this recognition for the third consecutive year.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Council of Ministers | Tamil Nadu Government Portal".
  2. ^ 31-member Palaniswami cabinet to be sworn-in at 4.30pm
  3. ^ "After tapping silicon valley, TN eyes Tamil diaspora in 38 countries". The New Indian Express. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Cauvery delta to be declared a protected agriculture zone". The Hindu. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Tamil Nadu declares Cauvery delta a protected agricultural zone". hindustan times. 10 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Rules notified for Delta Agri Zone Act". new indian express. 27 August 2020.
  7. ^ PTI (29 October 2020). "Tamil Nadu Govt Passes Order for 7.5% Quota in Medical Admissions for Govt School Students". News18. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  8. ^ IANS (26 October 2020). "Tamil Nadu govt to set up medical colleges in 11 districts, add 1,650 seats". Business Standard. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Tamil Nadu has 3,400 MBBS seats now and will add 1,650 in future: CM". The Hindu. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  10. ^ Menon, Amarnath (27 November 2021). "Best performing big state overall: Tamil Nadu". India Today. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  11. ^ "T.N. tops in 'State of the States' study". The Hindu. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Tamil Nadu bags best performer award, again". New Indian Express. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2022.