Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin addressed the audience at Umagine 2024, a technology and innovation summit in Chennai, shedding light on the state’s significant strides in the IT sector and outlining future prospects under the leadership of Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, the current Minister of Information Technology.Stalin’s decision to appoint Dr. Thiaga Rajan to the IT portfolio came amidst intense debate following the release of a controversial audio clip by BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai. Stalin defended his decision, citing Dr. Thiaga Rajan’s stellar performance as the former Finance Minister and expressing confidence in his ability to bring about transformative changes in the IT Ministry, mirroring his achievements in finance.
“He [Dr. Thiaga Rajan] performed very well as the Finance Minister and laid the path for many changes. I changed him [to IT] to ensure that he can bring in similar changes in the IT Ministry just as he had changed the Finance Ministry,” stated Chief Minister Stalin. He further emphasized the pivotal role of the IT sector in driving Tamil Nadu’s economic growth and job creation, expressing optimism about the state’s prospects under Dr. Thiaga Rajan’s leadership.Stalin also credited former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for his foresight in predicting the future of the IT industry over 25 years ago. He recalled Karunanidhi’s inauguration of the IT corridor between 1996-2001, highlighting Tamil Nadu’s pioneering initiatives in the sector. “Tamil Nadu has managed to stand first in India in IT,” Stalin remarked, attributing these achievements to Karunanidhi’s vision and leadership. He praised Karunanidhi as the “sculptor of modern Tamil Nadu” for laying the foundation of the state’s technological advancement.