In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, ministers V. Senthil Balaji and K. Ponmudy have resigned from chief minister M.K. Stalin-led cabinet, amid controversies. The governor has accepted their resignation, a Raj Bhavan communique said.
The cabinet reshuffle comes at the tail end of the five-year term of the ruling DMK, amid growing political and legal pressures. The move is looked at as a significant step to restore public confidence with just 11 months for the assembly general election.
Senthil Balaji, who has been facing a PMLA case was asked to choose between ministership and freedom by the Supreme Court. Ponmudy had courted a major controversy through his derogatory speech on Shaivaites and Vaishnavaites.
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With Balaji and Ponmudy stepping down, Padmanabapuram MLA T. Mano Thangaraj has been brought back into the cabinet. He will handle Milk and Dairy Development, the portfolio which he was holding earlier. The reshuffle has entrusted Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar with the additional charge of the Electricity portfolio, while senior minister S. Muthusamy will handle Prohibition and Excise, in addition to his Housing Development department.
R.S. Rajakannappan, previously minister for Milk and Dairy Development, has been redesignated as the minister for Forests and Khadi. The swearing-in ceremony for the new minister-designate is scheduled to be held at Raj Bhavan on Monday.
While Balaji’s resignation was expected following the Supreme Court ultimatum, Ponmudy's exit was due to the growing political pressure.
