Polity Women Ministers in Tamil Nadu: Historical Evolution Context: In the newly formed Tamil Nadu Cabinet, nine Ministers were sworn in along with the Chief Minister. Keerthana became the first woman elected from the Sivakasi Assembly constituency. Claims on social media that she is the first woman Cabinet Minister in Tamil Nadu are incorrect. First Woman Minister in Madras Presidency The first woman to become a Cabinet Minister in the then Madras Presidency was Rukmini Laxmipathi in 1946. She served in the Cabinet headed by T. Prakasam. She handled the Public Health and Medicine portfolios. Earlier, the 1937 Cabinet formed under C. Rajagopalachari had no women Ministers. Women Ministers After Independence After India became a Republic, no women were included in the Cabinet formed in 1952 under Rajagopalachari. During a Cabinet reshuffle in 1953, Jothi Venkatachalam was inducted as a Minister. Lourdammal Simon and Kamaraj Era In 1957, Lourdammal Simon became a Minister in the Cabinet led by K. Kamaraj. She represented the Colachel constituency in Kanyakumari district. She was assigned the Local Administration portfolio. Women Ministers in the DMK Era In 1967, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam formed the government for the first time. Satyavani Muthu became Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare in the Cabinet headed by C. N. Annadurai. She later continued as Minister in Cabinets formed by M. Karunanidhi. Later Developments After the death of M. G. Ramachandran, Janaki Ramachandran briefly served as Chief Minister and was the only woman in her Cabinet. In 1991, R. Indirakumari became a Minister in the Cabinet formed by J. Jayalalithaa. Since 1991, women have continuously been represented in Tamil Nadu Cabinets. Presiding Officers of State Legislatures Context: J.C.D. Prabhakar, was unanimously elected the Speaker of the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly. M. Ravisankar, was unanimously elected the Deputy Speaker. Constitutional Provision…
