In other news, Srikant Jena is the new fertiliser minister following MK Alagiri's resignation.
A press release from Rashtrapati Bhavan said 'the President of India, as advised by the prime minister, has
accepted the resignation of Alagiri,
S S Palanimanickam, S Gandhiselvan, Dr S Jagathrakshakan, D Napoleon, from the Union council of ministers.
The release further said that Srikant Jena has been given independent charge of the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers as minister of state, in addition
to independent charge of the ministry of statistics and programme implementation as minister of state.