Poongothai re-inducted into DMK ministry

DMK MLA Poongathai, who had to step down as a minister from the Karunanidhi Cabinet for her alleged intervention in a corruption case involving her relative, was inducted into the DMK ministry on Friday.

She was administered the oath of office by the Governor S S Barnala in Chennai.

Poongothai will be the new Information Technology Minister, a subject hitherto handled by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Finance Minister K Anbhazhagan and Local Administration Minister M K Stalin were among those present at the function.

Later speaking to reporters, Poongothai thanked Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for her re-induction and said she would work under his guidance and satisfy all the expectations of her senior colleagues.

Poongothai, daughter of slain DMK leader Aladi Aruna, resigned from the cabinet last year following publication of excerpts of her telephonic conversation with the then Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, S K Upadyaya, requesting him to go soft with regard to a corruption case involving one of her relatives.

Poongothai, a renowned doctor belonging to the powerful backward Nadar community in the southern districts of the state, was earlier the Social Welfare Minister.