Chennai : In an unheard of highhandedness, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi removed DMK Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Cabinet, without consulting the Chief Minister. As criticism mounted, the dismissal order was pulled back though.
This is first instance in the country where a Governor expels sitting minister without the knowledge of Chief Minister. Constitutionally, the Governor has power neither to appoint nor dismiss a minister own his own, without prior recommendation from the Chief Minister.
Governor RN Ravi was compelled to roll back his Order after Chief Minister MK Stalin warned of legal action. The Governor responded informing that he froze the Order and that further steps would be decided after due consultation with the Attorney General.
Minister Balaji was arrested by ED on the 14th in the cash-for-jobs scandal pertaining to his ministerial stint under Jayalalithaa government 7 years ago. Balaji is currently in hospital under judicial custody. The Raj Bhavan explanation is that Bajalji retained as minister will potentially hamper investigations against him. With the wide backlash that and legal tangle staring in the face, the Governor turned to Attorney for advice.
Post ED arrest, Balaji’s portfolios of Power and Excise were transferred over to other senior ministers - a move that the Governor approved. The Chief Minister had decided to keep Balaji as minister sans departments. The Governor agreed. .The unexpected move from Governor came barely days after. The Madras High Court will hear pleas challenging Balaji’s continuance in Cabinet on 7th of July.
Balaji’s arrest by ED came in a dramatic fashion at midnight following its raid on the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. A 18-hour interrogation followed. All of these quickly snowballed into controversy.
Central agencies set out against Balaji after he joined DMK in 2018. Balaji is a influential leader in Konkudesa region of western Tamil Nadu. He underwent heart surgery at the hospital with permission of the Court while in custody.
