Milk and Dairy Development Minister R.S. Rajakannappan was on Thursday stripped of the Khadi and Village Industries Board portfolio. It was allocated to Forests Minister K. Ponmudy, a senior member of the M.K. Stalin Cabinet.

An official communication from the Raj Bhavan said the re-allocation of the portfolio from Mr. Rajakannappan to Mr. Ponmudy followed recommendations from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

When the DMK government came to power in May 2021, Mr. Rajakannappan was given the transport portfolio. In March 2022, he was re-designated as Minister for Backward Classes Welfare. The transport portfolio was handed over to his Minister S.S. Sivasankar.

In December 2022, Minister R. Gandhi was divested of the ‘Khadi and Village Industries Board’ portfolio, which was then given to Mr. Rajakannappan. Later, following the disqualification of Mr. Ponmudy in December 2023 on account of his conviction in a corruption case, the higher education portfolio held by him was handed over to Mr. Rajakannappan and the ‘Khadi & Village Industries Board’ subject was allotted back to Mr. Gandhi.

When Mr. Ponmudy was re-inducted into the Cabinet in March 2024 after he obtained a court order, Mr. Rajakannappan was re-designated as Minister for Backward Classes Welfare and was additionally allocated the ‘Khadi & Village Industries Board’ subject.

Even after when he was re-designated as Minister for Dairy Development in September 2024, Mr. Rajakannappan continued to hold the ‘Khadi & Village Industries Board’ subject.