Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa has dropped the state Transport Minister V. Senthil Balaji from her cabinet. The portfolio held by him so far has been allocated to the industries minister P.Thankamani.

A communique from Raj Bhavan has said, the recommendation of the Chief Minister to this effect has been accepted by Governor K. Rosiah. Mr Balaji has also been removed from the AIADMK party’s District Secretary post meant for his native district of Karur earlier today.

The party position has been entrusted with Mr Thankamani until a new District Secretary is nominated, as said in a statement from the ruling party headquarters. However, no reason has been attributed to the action.