Jayalalithaa drops senior minister Sengottaiyan

Chennai, July 18 (IANS) In a surprise move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa Wednesday decided to drop senior minister K.A. Sengottaiyan and induct Thoppu N.D.Venkatachalam into her cabinet.

According to a communication issued by Raj Bhavan, Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah has accepted the recommendation of Jayalalithaa to drop Minister for Revenue Sengottaiyan from the council of ministers and to appoint Venkatachalam as the new revenue minister.

The swearing-in ceremony of Venkatachalam representing the Perundurai assembly constituency will be held Thursday morning at Raj Bhavan.

The dropping of Sengottaiyan is the first major decision taken by Jayalalithaa soon after her return from Kodanadu in Nilgirs district in Tamil Nadu Wednesday. Sengottaiyan was also relieved of the party post as headquarters secretary.

The decision was announced after Jayalalithaa chaired the meeting of the party's parliament members and members of the state assembly to discuss about the presidential poll Thursday.