DMK President M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday said it is a wonder that Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao allocated portfolios handled by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam based on her advice, reports PTI.
“This is because a question has arisen among some people if Jayalalithaa had (actually) signed the file and rendered advice (regarding) allotting her portfolios to Finance Minister Panneerselvam,” Karunanidhi said.
The veteran politician said that several leaders, including the Tamil Nadu Governor, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and others, were not allowed to see or wish Jayalalithaa in person when they visited the Apollo Hospitals, in Tamil Nadu, where she is admitted.
The Raj Bhavan statement issued on Tuesday said the Governor, under Clause (3) of the Constitution’s Article 166, had allocated the portfolios handled by Jayalalithaa to Panneerselvam based on her advice.
Jayalalithaa held the portfolios of Public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, General Administration, District Revenue Officers and Home. Panneerselvam will also preside over the cabinet meetings.
“The suspicion whether the Governor had fully considered all the dimensions of the Constitution… before giving his nod for the new arrangement cannot be fully ignored,” Karunanidhi added.
