Chennai, March 29 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu, transport minister, R.S. Rajakannappan has been divested of his portfolio following allegation by an official of the department that the minister used a casteist slur against him. This was following a complaint raised by a Block Development Officer in Ramanathapuram district that Rajakannappan had rebuked him using his caste name.

The Tamil Nadu Rajbhavan in communication on Tuesday said that the portfolios of the minister of transport, nationalized transport and Motor vehicles held by Rajakannappan would be handled by Minister for Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, and denotified communities minister S.S. Sivasankar. The release said that this was following a recommendation by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin.

Rajakannappan will now be handling the portfolio handled by Minister for Backward classes, S.S. Sivasankar.

The DMK government divesting the portfolio of a minister assumes significance as the party does not usually resort to such moves.