After Outrage, Tamil Nadu Guv Withdraws Order To Dismiss Senthil Balaji

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has reportedly withdrawn his decision to dismiss jailed minister Senthil Balaji from the state cabinet.

Following advice from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Tamil Nadu Governor took back his decision to dismiss Senthil Balaji from the state cabinet, India Today reported citing sources.

The Tamil Nadu Governor has now written a letter to Chief Minister M K Stalin saying that the jailed minister can continue as a minister in his cabinet. The Governor will be seeking a legal opinion from the attorney general on the matter, sources informed News18.

Hours ago, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi dismissed jailed DMK leader V Senthil Balaji from the state cabinet with immediate effect, a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

"Minister V Senthil Balaji is facing serious criminal proceedings in a number of cases of corruption including taking cash for jobs and money laundering. Abusing his position as a Minister, he has been influencing the investigation and obstructing the due process of law and justice," the statement said.

The Governor noted that Balaji is in judicial custody in a criminal case which is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and some more criminal cases against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code are being investigated by the state police.

"There are reasonable apprehensions that continuation of V Senthil Balaji in the Council of ministers will adversely impact the due process of law including a fair investigation that may eventually lead to the breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the state," the statement added.

However, Tamil Nadu Chief Miniter M K Stalin said that they will fight the issue "legally".

"The Governor doesn't have rights, we will face this legally," he said on the dismissal of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji. Governor Ravi's dramatic move is expected to further intensify the ongoing tussle between him and the DMK regime over several issues such as Bills awaiting his assent.

On June 14, Minister Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Later, he was admitted to Omandurar government hospital here after he complained of uneasiness and chest pain during the investigation. Subsequently, Balaji was shifted to Kauvery Hospital, where he underwent bypass surgery.

On Wednesday, a court extended the judicial custody of Senthil Balaji till July 12.

On June 16, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi re-allocated the portfolios held by arrested state Minister V Senthil Balaji, on the recommendations of Chief Minister M K Stalin but had "not agreed" to the minister continuing in the cabinet, the Raj Bhavan said. On Stalin's recommendations, the Electricity, Non-Conventional Energy Development portfolio held by Balaji was allocated to Finance Minister Thangam Thennarsu, the release said.

Further, the subjects Prohibition and Excise, Molasses held by Balaji was allocated to Housing and Urban Development Minister S Muthusamy.

Thennarau and Muthusamy are holding the new portfolios in addition to their existing ones.

On the other hand, the Governor's action also sparked outrage among the non-BJP opposition parties which condemned the dismissal.

RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari dubbed the governor's action as unfortunate and a "murder on democracy". While Samajwadi Party spokesman Fakhrul Hasan Chand alleged that the Governor was acting like an "agent of the Centre", CPI leader D Raja deplored the dismissal of the minister without holding consultations with the Chief Minister.