3 chief ministers to be sworn in today

The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry are expected to be sworn in on Monday, whereas Oommen Chandy would become the chief minister of Kerala on Wednesday.

In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa is expected to take the oath as the chief minister. Congress’ incumbent Tarun Gogoi is likely to be appointed for a third term in Assam and All India NR Congress (AINRC) founder N Rangasamy would assume office in Puducherry.

Jayalalithaa, 63, who got a massive mandate, is expected to take the oath as chief minister for a third time at the Madras University’s centenary hall in Chennai around noon. The announcement was made by Chief Secretary S Malathi after the AIADMK chief met Governor S S Barnala to stake claim to form government.

The former chief minister, who earlier held office between 1991-96 and 2001-06, said restoring law and order and improving the health of the state’s economy were her priorities.

“My first priority will be to restore the law and order. The state’s economy has been totally derailed and there has been a lot of regression during the last five years. It is almost like having gone back to the dark ages,” she said.

The party chief has also finalised the cabinet list with 34 ministers. Some of the key portfolios have been allocated to her trusted and senior AIADMK leaders including former chief minister O Panneerselvam (finance), V Senthil Balaji (transport), S T Chellapndian (labour), K A Senkottaiyan (agriculture), Nainar Nagendran, (industry), C V Shanmugam (education), Gokula Indira. Pazha Karuppiah, who was elected from the Harbour constituency, is likely to be the Speaker of the 14th assembly.

In Assam, Congress’ Tarun Gogoi is expected to hold the chair of CM for the third time in a row. Gogoi is expected to meet Governor J B Patnaik tomorrow.

In Puducherry, Rangasamy today met Lt Governor Iqbal Singh and staked his claim to form the government soon after he was elected leader of the AINRC legislature party.