Chennai, May 23: AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa was sworn-in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time Saturday, within a fortnight of the Karnataka High Court acquitting her in a corruption case.
Jayalalithaa (67), was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor K Rosaiah at the packed Madras University Centenary Auditorium.
The Governor also administered oath of office to the council of ministers in two batches. Jayalalithaa would head a 29-member government in the 14th Tamil Nadu assembly.
While dropping MSM Anand, minister for forests and P Chendur Pandian (without portfolio) in the O Panneerselvam cabinet, she retained all other ministers without changing their portfolios.
Jayalalithaa would, among others look after the home and general administration departments.
Panneerselvam will continue to hold the finance and public works portfolios. A large number of people lined up along the road starting from Jayalalithaa’s residence till the venue of the swearing-in.
Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan and other political leaders such as H Raja, L Ganesan, and Sarathkumar attended the swearing in ceremony. From the movie world, actors Rajnikanth, Prabhu, Gundu Kalyanam, music director Illayaraja and others attended the function.
The AIADMK had won the 2011 assembly elections and Jayalalithaa was sworn-in as the chief minister. Last September, she was disqualified after a court sentenced her.IANS
