Tamil Nadu ministers Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy stepped down from their posts in the MK Stalin-led cabinet, with Governor RN Ravi formally accepting their resignations on Wednesday. Balaji served as the Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise, while Ponmudy was Minister for Forests in the DMK-led state government.The development comes amid intensifying legal and political pressure on Balaji, after a stern reprimand from the Supreme Court regarding his continued tenure as minister despite facing serious criminal charges.The DMK leader has been under the spotlight ever since he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case linked to a recruitment scam. Though he secured bail in September 2024 after nearly 500 days of remand on grounds of Article 21 violations, the top court on Wednesday expressed deep “shock” over his swift reinstatement as a minister after his release.
A division bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih questioned the propriety of allowing Balaji to continue in public office, reminding his counsel that the bail had been granted not on the merits of the case but purely on considerations of constitutional rights.
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The next SC hearing for the case is scheduled for Monday.Stalin shakes up portfolios After the two resignations, Chief Minister MK Stalin promptly rearranged cabinet responsibilities to keep the government running smoothly. SS Sivasankar has been given extra responsibility for the Electricity department, taking over from Balaji; while S Muthusamy will now handle the Prohibition and Excise portfolio. Meanehile, RS Rajakannappan has been put in charge of the Forests and Khadi departments and has officially been made the Minister for Forests and Khadi.
The new ministers designate wil be sworn into office on Monday at Chennai’s Raj Bhavan.
To strengthen his team further, the Chief Minister has also recommended adding T Mano Thangaraj, the MLA from Padmanabhapuram, to the cabinet.