Finally, as expected, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has made a major cabinet reshuffle on Thursday - May 11. The official announcement of the rejig has come moments after DMK MLA TRB Rajaa sworn-in as a new minister. Ever since the talk of the cabinet reshuffle made headlines, all eyes were on Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) that he would be moved out of the Finance Ministry after a backlash from the controversial audio tapes. 

As anticipated, PTR has been removed as the Finance Minister and yet, successfully stayed in the cabinet as it was speculated that he would lose the cabinet berth in the wake of audio tapes. As a new task, PTR has now been made the Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services. Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu has taken over PTR's role as the Minister for Finance and Human Resources, while the newcomer TRB Rajaa has been appointed as the Minister of Industries. 

On Tuesday, MK Stalin expelled Avadi Nasar from his cabinet for his flawed performances and contentious tenure as the Minister for Milk and Dairy Development. Nasar has become the first minister to get ousted from Stalin's cabinet and in the cabinet reshuffle, Mano Thangaraj has been made as the new Minister for Milk and Dairy Development and Thangaraj's earlier portfolio of Information Technology and Digital Services has been awarded to PTR. 

In another major change, Minsiter of Information and Publicity, MP Saminathan has got an additional role as the Minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture, and Archaeology, the portfolio that was earlier held by the new Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu. PTR was on the limelight for the past few days after the release of the audio tapes that purportedly carried his voice. 

In the audio clips, PTR can be heard talking about MK Stalin's son and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and the former's son-in-law Sabareesan. PTR alleged that the duo had earned Rs 30,000 crore in a year and the audio clips, which were shared by Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai, have gone viral after which PTR released a video statement stating that the audio clips were fabricated and created with an intent to defame him and the government. He also vowed that he has a good relationship with Udhayanidhi Stalin and Sabareesan and that the opposition can't able to digest the achievements of the DMK government. 

However, the audio clips preluded a political backlash for PTR and several reports said that he had volunteerly offered to step down from the cabinet in the wake of the controversies. PTR has also been facing criticisms within the party over his disputable conduct with the party cadres. All these factors have gone against him and when it was reported that he would be ousted from the cabinet, the DMK high command wasn't in the mood to give shape to the accusations against PTR by expelling from the cabinet. 

As Stalin-led DMK administration had entered its third year of rule earlier this month, the cabinet reshuffle was expected from Stalin to do a damage control within the Council of Ministers. On Tuesday, Stalin announced that Avadi Nasar has expelled from the cabinet and that TRB Rajaa will become the new minister.

As Nasar was the lone minister to have shown the door, the speculations about PTR's expulsion were dotted up and Stalin's announcement gave a hint about the ministerial changes. The changes were finally made and PTR has been appointed as the Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services. It is pertinent to note that in a political backlash, PTR has recently got removed from the list of star speakers of DMK.