Jaya effects major bureaucratic reshuffle

In her first day in office, Chief Minister Jayalalitha effected a major bureaucratic reshuffle, bringing in a new Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Police Commissioner for Chennai.

Debendranath Sarangi, chairman of Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, was appointed Chief Secretary in place of S Malathi who has been transferred as Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Economics and Statistics.

Sheela Rani Chunkath, principal chairperson, Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation, has been appointed the new Home Secretary in place of K Gnanadesikan while J K Tripathy was appointed Chennai Police Commissioner in place of T Rajendran.

In her campaign for the April 13 assembly polls, Jayalalithaa had attacked the DMK rule over "deteriorating" law and order and a day ahead of her swearing in as Chief Minister declared that her first priority would be to restore law and order.