DHAKA: AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa will be sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time at 11am on Saturday.

After seven long months, Jayalalithaa on Friday stepped out of her house to floral showers and led a victory march to Raj Bhavan to meet governor K Rosaiah and stake claim to form the government, reports the Times of India.

Jayalalithaa will take oath along with a 28-member cabinet, most of them old hands, including trusted O Panneerselvam (finance), Natham R Viswanathan (power) and R Vaithilingam (housing).

Highways and minor ports minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will get additional charge of forest and P Palaniappan will remain higher education minister.

Forest minister M S M Anandan and Chendur Pandian have been dropped from the cabinet. Pandian, who had been ailing for a while, had been divested of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments portfolio a few months ago.

A Raj Bhavan communication said governor K Rosaiah approved the recommendation made by 'CM -designate' Jayalalithaa regarding allocation of portfolios among the council of ministers.

The city seemed to burst into celebrations as Jayalalithaa, who was making a rare public appearance after the Karnataka high court acquitted her in the disproportionate wealth case on May 11, left her Poes Garden residence at 1.28pm and proceeded to Raj Bhavan.

BDST: 0842 HRS, MAY 23, 2015
BD