CHENNAI - M.K. Stalin has been named Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister but in terms of ministerial hierarchy, he has been officially ranked as number three - after his father and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan, who is the leader of the house in the state assembly.

The state government issued a statement Saturday clarifying the official ranking after media reports said Stalin, elevated as deputy chief minister Friday, was number two in the state government.

DMK chief Karunanidhi’s statement Friday explaining the reason for the elevation - his old age and being confined to wheel chair while going out, the bodily strain to dispose around 100 files per day and the inability of Anbazhagan to take additional responsibility owing to his old age - had clearly mentioned that Stalin will be ranked third in the 30-member state ministry.

The new pecking order for the top six in the state government is: Karunanidhi, Anbazhagan, Stalin, Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veerasami, Cooperation Minister Ko.Si. Mani and Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam.

In his new role, Stalin will look after the departments of general administration, district revenue offices, industries, minorities welfare, social reforms, passports and special initiatives, social reforms, municipal administration, rural development, panchayats and panchayat unions, poverty alleviation programmes, rural indebtedness, urban and rural water supply.

Stalin Saturday called on Governor Surjit Singh Barnala to ask about his health. The governor had undergone a knee surgery in a city hospital and was discharged Saturday.