Jayalalitha is off to a flying start as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu
J Jayalalitha, who began her new innings as chief minister of Tamil Nadu on 23 May as head of a 28-member ministry, got off to a flying start within hours of assuming office. She made a series of announcements, ranging from loan waiver to distressed farmers, free supply of power to equally stressed handloom and powerloom weavers and phased closure of liquor shops, with 500 to begin with.
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In another first of its kind, Jayalalitha expanded her cabinet even before her ministers could settle down, inducting four more, taking its strength to 33. It's still unclear as to when these newly inducted ministers will take office.
She also shuffled officers of the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service to undo changes made by the Election Commission to ensure fair elections. In other words, her loyalists were rewarded.
In a welcome break from the past culture of vendetta politics, Jayalalitha invited all legislators to the swearing-in ceremony at the packed University Centenary Hall, Chennai with 1,500 attendees, including DMK leader MK Stalin, who is going to be the Leader of the Opposition in the new Assembly.
In an indication that she is still not in the pink of health, after being sworn into office by Governor K Rosiah, Jayalalitha made her 28 Cabinet colleagues take oath in two batches, finishing the entire ceremony in 20 minutes flat.
It was a repeat of a practice she introduced after she returned to power in March 2015 upon her acquittal by the Karnataka High Court in the wealth case, overturning the lower court's order, which led to her instant disqualification in September 2014.
On that occasion, she made her ministers take oath in batches. It is a moot point whether it is constitutionally valid as ministers are collectively as well as individually responsible under the Cabinet form of government. But such constitutional niceties were overlooked as a concession to her health.
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At that time, she was in full control of the situation with over 150 members in a House of 234. But in the recently concluded election her strength has reduced to 134, with the DMK winning 89 seats, the Congress seven and the Indian Union Muslim League taking one seat.
Accepting the people's verdict, Stalin said his party would play the role of a constructive Opposition, unlike his father and five-time Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who wished the newly appointed chief ministers of Kerala, West Bengal and Assam, but not Jayalalitha.
Jayalalitha returned his gesture by inviting Stalin along with all other legislators, besides special invitees. Other senior leaders such as Ponmudi also attended, but seven Congress MLAs stayed away, unsure of the welcome they would get.
Karunanidhi creating a row over rows, said in a statement that Jayalalitha insulted Stalin by relegating him to the 12th row, while defeated ally Sarath Kumar was seated in the front row. It showed that she had not changed and hadn't learnt any lessons from the results, according to Karunanidhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was represented by Union ministers M Venkiah Naidu and Pon Radhakrishnan. Though the BJP has drawn a blank, it has to depend on the AIADMK in the Rajya Sabha for crucial bills like the Goods and Services Tax Bill. The AIADMK has also been supportive of the Modi government in the Lok Sabha.
The biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu is slated for 11 June, as six MPs are retiring - three from the AIADMK, two from the DMK and one from the Congress.
The AIADMK on its own strength get three seats, and the DMK two.
It is the sixth seat which may prove problematic as the Congress, though few in numbers, want to send former Minister P Chidambaram to the Upper House with the support of the DMK. Even then, they fall short of the required numbers unless the AIADMK extends support. But Chidambaram is not a favourite of Jayalalitha.
Though the Lokayukta was not among the poll promises, she still fulfilled it on her first day in office. This was imperative as Tamil Nadu is among the few states which does not have an ombudsman and to enact a law she will need the support of the DMK as it involves amendments to the Constitution.
Getting into action mode, Jayalalitha announced waiver of loans of small and micro farmers that would cost the Exchequer Rs 5,780 crore.
She also announced 100 units of free power bimonthly to domestic consumers that would benefit 78 lakh families and cost the government Rs 1,607 crore.
In a major fillip, she announced 200 units free power bimonthly to handloom weavers and 500 units to powerloom weavers who have their own sheds. Jayalalitha provided this relief to weavers so as to tackle the unemployment faced by nearly 25,000 of them.
Jayalalitha gave priority to the phased introduction of prohibition in the State, ordering the closure of 500 state-run TASMAC shops to begin with, and reducing business hours to 12 pm to 10 pm, against the present 10 am to 10 pm.
This is only a small step as TASMAC runs over 6,800 retail outlets across the State. Liquor is the main source of revenue, with last year accounting for Rs 29 crore, so Jayalalitha is naturally moving slowly with prohibition.
Ironically, the first file she signed after becoming chief minister for the first time in May 1991, was total prohibition. Of course, she went back on it. But that's another story.
Edited by Anna Verghese
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First published: 24 May 2016, 5:41 IST
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