Rice at Rs 2 to cost TN exchequer Rs 550cr a year

31-member ministry sworn in on Saturday

Immediately after swearing in as the Chief Minister, Karunanidhi signed files initiating steps to fulfil three of the party's poll promises.

He announced that the price of rice, supplied through the public distribution system, would be reduced to Rs 2 per kg with effect from June 3, the day he would turn 83. It would cost the exchequer Rs 550 crore per year.

He also announced waiver of cooperative loans of farmers to the tune of Rs 6,800 crore. The government also announced that the children taking food under the noon meal scheme would be given eggs twice a week as against the present practice of one egg a week. The scheme would come into effect from July 15, the birth anniversary of K Kamaraj, who introduced the noon meal scheme for poor students in schools in Tamil Nadu in the sixties.

Karunanidhi, who assumed office as the chief minister for the fifth time, will hold the portfolios of home, industries and information technology, mines and minerals.

DMK deputy general secretary and Karunanidhi's son M K Stalin has been sworn in as the minister for municipal administration, urban development and water supply.

The ministry list includes several DMK old hands like K Anbazhagan, Arcot N Veerasami, Ko Si Mani, Veerapandi S Arumugam, Duraimurugan and Ponmudi.

While K Anbazhagan will be the finance minister, Arcot N Veerasami, Duraimurugan, Veerapandi Arumugam and Ko SI Mani will hold the portfolios of electricity and rural industries, public works, agriculture and co-operatives respectively.

Prominent among the new faces are P T R Palanivelrajan, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, A V Velu and Dr Poongothai, daughter of former minister late Aladi Aruna. The ministry also includes three women -- Poongothai, Geetha Jeevan and Thamizharasi.

The DMK-led democratic progressive alliance won 163 seats in the 234-member assembly election held on May 8. The DMK bagged 96 seats in the elections and its allies Congress won 34 seats, PMK bagged 18 seats, CPI (M) nine and CPI six seats.

Karunanidhi will be heading a minority government, with its allies "� the Congress, PMK and the Left parties extending support from outside.

Besides, leaders and members from alliance parties, Union ministers Pranab Mukherjee and Jaipal Reddy were present at the function on behalf of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.