Thangaraj was sworn in at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan, where Governor R N Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy. The event was attended by Chief Minister Stalin, his son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, along with other ministers and officials. Udhayanidhi continues to hold the third position in the order of protocol, following Chief Minister Stalin and veteran minister K Duraimurugan, who oversees irrigation.

Representing the Padmanabapuram constituency in Kanyakumari district, Thangaraj will be responsible for Dairy Development, a role currently held by Raja Kannappan. He is known to have close ties with Kanimozhi, the party’s prominent female leader and MP. With Thangaraj’s induction, the coastal district once again has representation in the council of ministers.

On Sunday, the portfolios of Senthil Balaji and Ponmudy were reallocated. Raja Kannappan has taken over the Forest Department. Transport Minister SS Sivasankar has also assumed additional responsibilities for Electricity, while Housing Minister S Muthusamy now oversees Prohibition and Excise.

Muthusamy, originally from Erode in Western Tamil Nadu, recently transitioned from the AIADMK to the DMK. He previously managed the Prohibition and Excise portfolio during the time when Senthil Balaji was appointed Minister without Portfolio following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.

Hashtags #MunirOut and #MunirMIA trended on X on Monday. Just days prior to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Munir referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “Jugular Vein” and asserted that Hindus and Muslims are “two separate nations.”

During his address at a Convention for Overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad, Munir stated, “Our stance is unequivocal: it is our jugular vein, it will remain our jugular vein, and we will not abandon our Kashmiri brothers in their courageous struggle.”

Following the attack, he continued to emphasize the two-nation theory while addressing the passing out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul, Abbottabad. He remarked that the theory rests on the fundamental belief that Muslims and Hindus constitute two distinct nations. “Muslims differ from Hindus in all aspects—religion, customs, traditions, beliefs, and aspirations,” he stated.

Munir further declared that Pakistan’s existence resulted from “unparalleled struggle and sacrifices,” and underscored that its defense is a duty of the armed forces, saying, “Our forefathers sacrificed greatly for Pakistan’s creation. We know how to protect it.”

To dispel the rumors regarding the Army Chief’s disappearance, the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office released a photo featuring Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Munir at an event, with a caption noting the date and location. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, and officers of PMA Kakul in a group photo with graduating officers of the 151st Long Course at PMA Kakul, Abbottabad. April 2025. (sic),” read the caption.

Unverified claims circulating on social media suggested not only that Munir was missing but also that there had been no updates regarding his family. Rumors indicated that his family had reportedly fled the country following the Pahalgam attack.

Both leaders highlighted that this MoU will facilitate collaboration in various fields, including science, Ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga science, agriculture, and other applied sciences and professional courses.

Under the terms of the agreement, both universities aim to enhance mutual cooperation in areas such as agriculture, technological innovation, entrepreneurship development, and student academic and skill growth.

Furthermore, students will have the chance to participate in training, internships, and research through student exchange programs. The MoU will also support joint research initiatives, development activities, skill enhancement programs, COVID-related research, public health advancements, startup activities, and other collaborative projects.

The overarching goal is to create new employment opportunities for the youth by implementing skill development programs across agriculture, science, technology, and health sectors.

Both institutions will organize seminars, workshops, and specialized training programs on topics of shared interest. Additionally, they will focus on improving student participation and leadership through exchange opportunities while providing avenues for training, internships, and research.

Present at the signing were Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Mank Kumar Aggarwal and Examination Controller Dr. Arvind Kumar Singh from the University of Patanjali, as well as Vice Chancellor Prof. Onkar Singh, Examination Controller Dr. B.K. Patel, and Finance Officer Vikram Singh Jantal from Uttarakhand Technical University, along with other senior officials.

The dignitaries hailed this MoU as a significant milestone in education and research, expressing optimism about its potential to yield substantial benefits in the future.