Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Friday morning in a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai, five days after the DMK secured a comfortable majority in the 234-member state assembly.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath and office and secrecy to 68-year-old Stalin. As Stalin was sworn in, his wife Durga, who was seated in the front row, was seen wiping her tears as DMK leaders and cadres cheered their leader.
After the swearing-in, Stalin signed the register. Along with Stalin, 33 ministers were also sworn in by Governor Purohit. The DMK went for a low-key swearing-in at the Raj Bhavan owing to the Covid-19 situation in the state.
From the Opposition AIADMK, former deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, former Speaker Dhanapal, and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan attended the event. Dayanidhi Alagiri and Kayalvizhi, children of Stalin's elder brother M K Alagiri, also attended the swearing-in.
While the senior-most Durai Murugan will be the Water Resources Minister, party veterans K N Nehru, I Periyasamy, and K Ponmudy will be ministers for municipal administration, Co-operation, and Higher Education respectively.
As the Covid-19 crisis grips the state, former Chennai Mayor Ma Subramanian, known for his administrative skills, will be the new Health Minister, and former investment banker P T R Palanivel Thiagarajan was sworn in as the Finance Minister.