Opposition Parties Attack Governor After TN Minister Senthil Balaji Briefly Sacked

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi's decision to dismiss minister Senthil Balaji on account of criminal charges against him has sparked a controversy. The Governor's decision was met with widespread criticism from the opposition parties, who accused him of acting unconstitutionally.

The Governor's office said that Balaji was dismissed because he was in judicial custody in a criminal case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. The office also said that there were other criminal cases against Balaji under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.

However, the opposition parties argued that the Governor did not have the authority to dismiss a minister without the advice of the chief minister. They pointed to Article 164 of the Constitution, which states that a minister can be removed only on the advice of the chief minister.

The AAP, the Trinamool Congress, and the RJD all issued statements criticising the Governor's decision. The AAP called it "outrightly unconstitutional," while the Trinamool Congress said that the Governor had acted unilaterally and without consulting the chief minister. The RJD said that the Governor must have received a diktat from Delhi.

The BJP, on the other hand, defended the Governor's decision, saying that he had every right to dismiss Balaji. The party also said that the Governor had given reasons for his decision.

Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14 in a cash-for-jobs scam. He was admitted to a hospital immediately after his arrest as he complained of chest pain. The minister underwent a bypass surgery on June 21.

The Governor's decision to dismiss Balaji is likely to further strain the relations between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor. The Governor has been accused of being biased against the DMK government, and this latest decision is likely to add to those accusations.