Paranjothi quits as HR & CE Minister

CHENNAI: Law and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister M Paranjothi resigned on Friday even as Social Welfare Minister Selvi Ramajayam was replaced by Thousand Lights MLA B Valarmathi.Paranjothi’s exit from the Jayalalithaa ministry comes a day after police filed an FIR based on a complaint filed by a woman doctor in Tiruchy.  MSM Anandan, MLA, Tiruppur North Assembly constituency has been appointed the new HR and CE Minister.  The portfolios including Tamil official language, Tamil culture, courts, prisons, personnel and administrative reforms held by Paranjothi has been allotted to C. Ve Shanmugam, in addition to school education.After he won hands down in the bypoll held in October for the Tiruchy-West constituency, two-time MLA Paranjothi was sworn in as minister on November 6. Paranjothi had to face allegations against him by Dr Rani right from the day he was nominated by the AIADMK for the bypoll. Rani had appealed to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to rescind the nomination of Paranjothi. Subsequently, when he was appointed minister, she made another plea. Rani had alleged that Paranjothi married her in 2008 and intimidated her besides taking away valuables.