Jayalalithaa sworn in as Chief Minister, Narendra Modi and CChandrababu Naidu presents, DMK skips ceremony

J Jayalalithaa begins her third term as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister today. She has been sworn in by Governor SS Barnalal along with 33 cabinet ministers at the Madras University.

Her AIADMK and its allies stomped to victory in the state elections, landing 203 of the 234 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The DMK and the Congress both skipped the oath-taking ceremony for the new government. Both parties contested the election jointly, and were hammered, with the DMK delivering one of its worst performances ever, managing barely 22 seats.

After her oath-taking ceremony, Jayalalithaa is hosting a lunch at the Taj Coromandel in Chennai. Among her VIP guests are Andhra politician Chandrababu Naidu and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The Chettinad Chicken Biryani is being highlighted as the day's special on the lunch menu.

Jayalalithaa's track record has established her as an efficient administrator. Her big challenge will be revamping the state's economy - Tamil Nadu has a debt of over a lakh crore rupees. And the new Chief Minister announced a slate of freebies in her campaign which will now have to be
delivered.

Ministers and their portfolios:

Jayalalithaa's cabinet has 33 other ministers, four more than the last DMK government. At least 25 members of the cabinet are new faces.

Jayalalithaa will hold the Home, Police, General Administration and prevention of corruption departments, among others.

Former chief minister O Pannerselvam has been allotted the Finance portfolio while another senior leader, K.A. Sengottaiyan, gets Agriculture.

Natham R. Viswanathan will look after Power, Prohibition and Excise.

Apart from Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK government will have two women ministers -- S. Gokula Indira (Commercial Taxes and Registration) and Selvi Ramajayam (Social Welfare).

The following are other ministers and their portfolios;

C. Shanmugavelu - Industries
S.S. Krishnamoorthy - Food
C. Karuppasamy - Animal Husbandry
K.P. Munisamy - Municipal Administration, Rural Development
R. Vaithilingam - Housing and Urban Development
Sellur K. Raju - Cooperation
P. Palaniappan - Higher Education
K.T. Pachamal - Forests
Edappadi K. Palanisamy - Highways and Minor Ports
C. Ve. Shanmugam - School Education
S.P. Velumani - Special Programme Implementation
T.K.M. Chinnayya - Backward Classes
M.C. Sampath - Rural Industries
G. Senthamizhan - Information
K.V. Ramalingam - Public Works
S.P. Shanmuganathan - Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
P. Thangamani - Revenue
B.V. Ramanaa - Handlooms and Textiles
R.B. Udhayakumar - Information and Technology
N. Subramanian - Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare
V. Senthil Balaji - Transport
N. Mariyam Pichai - Environment
K.A. Jayapal - Fisheries
E. Subaya - Law, Courts and Prisons
Budhichandhiran - Tourism
S.T. Chellapandian - Labour
V.S. Vijay - Health
N.R. Sivapathi - Sports and Youth Welfare