Next round of Musical chair !!! Cabinet reshuffle on the cards.

Secretariat is buzzing with word about an imminent cabinet re-shuffle today or tomorrow. Amma has decided to show the door to some and invite some to the cabinet.   Those who are likely to lose their job are K.T.Pachamal, Minister for Forest, Jayapal, Minister for Fisheries, Senthil Balaji, Minister for Transport, Gokula Indira, Minister for Tourism, K.V.Ramalingam, Minister for PWD, Dr.Vijay, Minister for Health and Chinnaiah, Minister for Animal Husbandry. 

Those who are likely to be inducted in the cabinet are old horse Nainar Naghendran, Salem Vekatachalam, Kuppan and Nanchil Murugesan.  Sources add that Senthamizhan who lost his ministership recently may also be given a second chance.

The MIDAS Touch 

AIADMK and the DMK...they are politically arch rivals...but when it comes to business...money seems to unite these strange bedfellows. This is an unwritten rule in Tamil Nadu politics...one such business entity that has always flourished in Tamil Nadu is Midas Golden Distilleries Limited and people connected with it.  

Midas Golden Distilleries Limited...   This firm has now become the largest supplier of alcohol to the state run TASMAC. It's no wonder that the total share of Midas distilleries to the TASMAC has gone up to 38% after AIADMK came to power...as everyone is aware of the powerful people behind MIDAS. One among them is Mohan, who is the all-in-all of the Midas golden distilleries...at present he is one of the crucial power centers in the state administration according to AIADMK insiders.   People who want to curry favours in the government rally around Midas Mohan say sources.

Whispers doing rounds in the business circles is that Midas Mohan's son Sanjay has recently acquired a contract to dispose of the scrap from Hyundai Car Manufacturers, which according to business sources is a very lucrative order.  
 
Curiously the contract of Sanjay is being executed along with a DMK bigwig.  Sanjay’s business partner in the scrap business is S.K.Mani who is a close confidant of Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of DMK’s heir apparent M.K.Stalin. DMK insiders say  Mani is a very close acquaintance of Stalin’s daughter Senthamarai, son-in-law Sabarish and Stalin’s wife Durga.  He is often seen spending hours together in their household is the information in power corridors. 

Despite such close connections to the first family of the DMK...Mohan has allowed his son to enter into this lucrative business deal...this seems to have disappointed many in the AIADMK camp because Mohan is portraying an image who only advances interests of the ruling AIADMK government.  Sources in the AIADMK roughly estimate that personal assets of Mohan, who is popularly known as Midas Mohan alone would be around Rs.400 crores.

But unperturbed by tongues wagging, Mohan is carrying on with his business merrily with the active backing of ‘Chinnamma’.     Even during the DMK regime, the fortune graph of Midas Distilleries only kept rising.   With its steady growth, thanks to the DMK regime’s orders from TASMAC, Midas Distilleries has now become a formidable player in the field giving strong completion to United Breweries, Shaw Wallace, Empee Distilleries, etc.  

In fact, sources in TASMAC administration say, to popularize the brands of Midas, officials are instructed to load the retail outlets with more Midas brands.   

Another cabinet reshuffle on the cards.

Within 10 days from the cabinet reshuffle Amma is contemplating yet another reshuffle in her Cabinet say sources in the corridors of power.  The Ministers who are likely to face the axe this time include KP.Ramalingam, Chinnaya and Pachamal... Besides cabinet reshuffle, the buzz in AIADMK circles is that another round of portfolio change is also expected. 

TN to get new home secretary.

Rameshram Mishra

The buzz in the corridors of Fort St.George is that Rameshram Mishra, IAS will be the second Home Secretary to be shunted out after Sheela Rani Chunkath. Sources say Amma is not so happy with the performance of the HS and has decided to show him the door.  Jaya was dissatisfied with the Home Secretary and her displeasure was palpable during the collector's and SP's conference. 

CM secretaries under scanner

Insiders in Fort St George say there has been several complaints against CM secretaries... 2 senior officers are now under the scanner. Sources say their activities are now being closely monitored by the intelligence. According to sources the allegation is that the secretaries are raking in the moolah in transfer and postings of senior officers and also for their close links in mines and minerals affairs. Bureaucrats and senior police officers are terrified by this deadly duo.

District Secretaries to be shuffled in AIADMK

Jaya has decided to crack the whip and replace certain district secretaries in the party.   Following the cabinet reshuffle, minor changes were effected in the party and this could be the second round of shuffle in the party. AIADMK circles say the list is being prepared keeping in mind the recent performance of party functionaries in the local body elections...insiders say Mannarkudi family is lobbying hard for their pound of flesh. 

More booze to flow

The move by the Jayalalitha’s  government to start deluxe luxurious bars to fill the treasury is seen as a desperate attempt by the government to manage the struggling treasury..  Government’s move is aimed to pull in the crowds that throng pubs and Star hotels.   Officers have been instructed to find suitable locations to start the bar in double time. TASMAC being the only cash cow, Jaya appears to be determined to milk this cow.  It appears that there is no bar for ‘Bar’ in Tamil Nadu.

Money matters : Amma’s directive

Amma has given curt instructions to officials to collect the outstanding taxes from all areas. Worried about the dwindling financial situation, Amma has cracked the whip and fearing Amma’s wrath, officials are on the move...but what if things go out of control...??

TN Cabinet reshuffle : Jaya's SIXER!!!

As reported in Whispers, the much awaited cabinet reshuffle has finally taken place and while 6 ministers have been dropped and 6 new faces have been inducted in Amma’s cabinet. 

The dropped names are C.Shanmugavelu, Rural Industries, Udhayakumar, Information Tecnology, SP.Shanmuganathan, HR & CE, NR.Sivapathy, Animal Husbandry, G.Senthamilan, Law and Buddhichandran, Food.

C Shanmugavelu who was handling Rural Industries including cottage and Small industries has been dropped because of lack of performance and because of the poor show in the local body elections.

S P Shanmuganathan who was handling Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments has been dropped due to lack of performance.

N R Sivapathy who was handling the Animal Husbandry, Milk and Dairy Development has been dropped because of AIADMK’s dismal show in the recently concluded local body elections…

Buddhichandaran who was handling civil Supplies, Consumer Protection and Price Control has been dropped because of lack of performance and also after allegations that he was favoring a group of people belonging to “Badaga” community in Nilgiris district and is being completely biased. Since Nilgiris district is DMK’s bastion…Jayalilathaa expects that a Minster from that region will strengthen her party’s base…But AIADMK insiders say that Buddhichandaran, had his own agenda to make hay while the sun shines. Whispers in the corridors of Fort St George is that...an intelligence team that was monitoring the activities of this former AIADMK Minister had sent a detailed report to the Chief Minister in this regard…following which Buddhichandaran was shown the door. 

Udhaykumar who was heading the Information Technology portfolio…seems to have annoyed Amma with is over dose of “Bakti” (Devotion) and almost incurable foot-in-mouth disease. His “Bakti” towards Amma made him attend without any footwear to the Secretariat. Infact, being an IT Minister RB Udhayakumar has been walking around barefoot…even when meeting officials and top industrialists in this condition. His argument was “Amma  is God to me. She is God to all AIADMK men. Wherever Amma is present, the place is a temple for me…So I do not put on footwear at the secretariat.” Chief Minister Jayalilathaa who was completely annoyed with this drama ordered him to put on his footwear. Despite a warning the Minister was roaming around the corridors of power bare foot. Also Whispers doing rounds is that he was in talking terms with former DMK Minister K K S S R… K K S S Ramachandaran, was an MGR loyalist defected to the DMK. Sources say an intelligence report was sent in this regard and also it was difficult for the officials working along with him… as R B U was weak in his subject. Well being a “tube light” or putting up “tube lights” for Amma seems to have annoyed her further.

G Senthamizhan who was handling some of the key portfolios like Information and Publicity, Law department, Courts and Prisons has been shown the door by Amma. The speculation doing rounds is that he has been dropped because recently he made phone calls to police officers to release AIADMK party men who were arrested…Infact, after the phone call he himself landed in a police station to mount pressure on the police to release them. But Whispers doing rounds in the AIADMK circles is that he was dropped because of his bitter rivalry with T Nagar MLA V P Kalairajan. 

Kalairajan

The turf war between V P Kalairajan and Senthamizhan is out in the open and all time high...and Kalairajan constantly kept lodging complaints against Senthamizhan with Poes Garden. V P Kalairajan has the dubious distinction of being bossy. Earlier, he ensured that Jaya’s class mate Bader Syeed and Actor S V Shekar were sidelined in the party by Amma as they did not adjust with him. Also AIADMK insiders say Amma is applying “one-man-one-post” formula as Senthamizhan, is also the South Chennai District Secretary. Whispers doing rounds in the intelligence circles is that Senthamizhan was in talking terms with Former City Mayor Ma Suburamaniam…despite a warning from Poes Garden he continued his relationship… so that has cost him dearly. Sources close to Senthamizhan say that he was hopeful that Amma will be re-designating him with better portfolio.   

The new faces inducted are S.Damodaran, R.Kamaraj, Dr.S.Sundararaj, M.Paranjothy, V.Moorthy and KT.Rajendhra Balaji. Whispers doing rounds is that… By and large all these new faces have been given cabinet berths after hectic lobbying with different power centers in the AIADMK. Whispers doing rounds is that M Ramachandran,Midas Mohan,Ravanan relatives and aides of Sasikala were approached by many AIADMK MLA's and some of these newly appointed Minister's were seen tagging along with  these power centers and also Looks like Caste and Regional balance was priority for Amma.

Sources also say based on the intelligence inputs Jayalalitha wanted to drop or atleast shif the port folios of Dr.Vijay, Velusamy, Agri Krishnamurthy and Natham Vishwanathan.  But Sasikala was firm that none of the four should be dropped…

There were also disappointments in the latest Cabinet re-shuffle…

Agriculture Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, 3^rd in command, seems to be very disappointed…as  Information Technology has been allocated for him. A portfolio that was handled Kanimozhi’s loyalist Poongothai Aladi Aruna during the DMK regime. Usually these Portfolios are handled by Junior Ministers. Since K A Sengottaiyan ranked third in the order of Ministers he was expecting that PWD portfolio will be allotted to him... but to the surprise of many it’s was a huge climb down.

Valarmathi, she has been trying very hard to get into the Cabinet…Sources in the AIADMK say Valarmathi was very confident until the final list was out. Whispers in Poes Garden is that Jaya is not willing to take any chances by inducting her.

V P Kalairajan, as we reported he went an extra mile to impress Amma…and Kalairajan was sure that he is into the Cabinet…But looks like Amma was not impressed by his gimmicks… as there has been equal number of complaints against him lodged by Senthamizhan’s camp. 

The others who were trying hard are now bracing themselves for the next round of lobbying…and those who have been dropped have just one thing to say “There is nothing permanent except change.” But the Tamil Nadu Government's website is yet to reflect these "changes".

TN Cabinet re-shuffle!

Tension seems to have gripped the AIADMK camp ahead of the much awaited Cabinet re-shuffle… even as there is palpable tension among the present Ministers… each and every minister is running from pillar to post to save his position. The secretariat PRO seems to be the man who is widely being contacted by all the Ministers…so that he may help them in arranging for some positive media coverage. While on one hand many of the present Ministers are maintaining low profile…just because of the reason that if they get too noticed then that will be the last nail in their coffin. …On the other hectic lobbying is underway inside “Veda Nilayam”…Thousand lights MLA Valarmathi is leaving no stone unturned to get into Amma’s cabinet and also T Nagar MLA V P Kalirajan has gone an extra mile to impress Jayalilathaa...in order to catch Amma’s attention Kalairajan has erected huge hoardings and banners praising Amma along the R K Salai stretch.

Whispers doing rounds in the AIADMK is that V P Kalairajan is taking the “MM” route which is fondly know as the “Mannargudi Mafia” in political circles… to reach the corridors of power. It’s a desperate attempt by VP Kalairajan as he is losing the turf battle against his arch rival Senthamizhan.  Sources in the party say many others have also approached MN & Co to step into the Cabinet. 

Deliberately sidelined seniors like Pollachi Jayaraman and Nainar Nagentheran are now once again trying their luck.  Sources in Fort St George say Jaya is not happy with the current performance of her Ministers…even though after completing 6 months in office she is yet to make an impact among the people of the State. Her populist welfare schemes are not being talked about…and the only thing that is working in her favour is the people’s anger against the DMK.  

Whispers doing rounds is that this time Ministers like Dr.Vijay, Velusamy, Agri Krishnamurthy, Natham Vishwanathan are the ones who are likely to face the axe. Sources in Khakhi department say the State intelligence has already submitted a detailed report on the performance of the Ministers and also Jaya has received complaints against many of her ministers… both department wise and politically…So that will by and large determine the fate of the present ministers…also whispers doing rounds is that Jaya is all set to follow the “one-man-one-post” formula to ensure smooth functioning of the party at all levels…and also to keep the “Mannargudi  Mafia” at check. 

 

Further the tightening noose around her in the Bengaluru court is also making Jayalalitha to fill up the cabinet completely with her loyalists instead of someone loyal to MM.  And the MM is also making strenuous efforts to push in their candidates to fill in their coffers.

Cabinet reshuffle on cards!!

Well it’s once again time to see some new faces in Amma’s cabinet…this time Chief Minister J Jayalilathaa has decided to drop at least 6 of her ministers due to lack of performance and on various charges. This will be done based on the Intelligence inputs submitted by the State Police…Immediately after assuming charge as Chief Minister Jayalilathaa had asked intelligence officials to form a team to track the activities of each minister. Last time Esakki  Subbaiah was axed based on complaints and a state intelligence report about his links with some DMK functionaries and charges that he had helped them bag some contracts. Besides, there were also allegations about his involvement in land grabbing. Also some of AIADMK district secretaries have also come under scanner due to the infighting within the party during the local body elections…that resulted in rebel candidates filing individual nominations…sources say several complaints have also been received on that front as well.

“Babus” to be shunted out!!

After cracking the whip on party men…Sources say Jaya’s focus will be on the government machinery…even though the AIADMK has witnessed a thumping victory in the just concluded local body elections…it was the anger against the DMK that had played a major role in these elections too…From power cuts to law and order situation in the State still remains a matter of concern for the people…and some of the populist schemes that were launched by Chief Minister J Jayalilathaa are yet to see the light of the day...Whispers doing rounds in Fort St George is that Chief Minister Jayalilathaa will be reviewing the performances of Babus too and is all set to crack the whip.  Sources say Amma is contemplating large scale transfers in the IAS and IPS cadre in the state.

Its movie time folks.....

Well, it’s that time of the year…when local Assistant Commissioners, Inspectors, Sub- Inspectors and Constables are bracing themselves for a ticket collection spree…its Diwali…and time for some new releases. This time there is a huge demand for tickets as movies like SRK’s Ra.One, Surya’s Ezham Arivu and Vijay’s Velayadum is all set to hit the silver screens. IAS and IPS officials have been directly contacting theater owners for tickets…and perhaps it has become as an unwritten rule for the Assistant Commissioners and Inspectors to arrange tickets for their senior officers. Now local police officers are visibly seen entering theaters in their jurisdiction for advance bookings…in one of the multiplex in the city a police inspector has demanded at least 10 tickets for each show (Compulsory) for him so that it can be given to senior officials or their family members. As usual theaters owners are completely annoyed by such demands and are avoiding phone calls from unknown numbers, fearing that it could be an IAS or an IPS officer.

Jaya’s complaint rattles Assembly speaker

Chief Minister J Jayalilathaa who preferred Fort St George as her office…has complained about the maintenance of the building…in a note that was sent to the Assembly speaker D Jayakumar…Chief Minister has complained that the corridors of power bears an ugly look…with electricity wires hanging overhead posing danger. This complaint by the Chief Minister seems to have rattled the Assembly speaker who is seen inspecting the corridors of Fort St George…and right now the Speakers focus is on getting things done for Amma.

Udhayanidhi Stalin makes a windfall

Red Giant pictures’ 7am Arivu has made a whopping profit of 15 crores even before it has hit the screen says industry sources.   With AR.Murugadoss being the director his bankable credibility has boosted the movies sales.  With Vijay’s ‘Velayutham’ hitting the silver screens the political tug of war has entered the silver screen too say sources. Vijay appearing to be Amma’s supporter sand Udhayanidhi Stalin being the producer of ‘7am Arivu’ political war has entered the silver screen too.