Tamil Nadu governor reverses decision to dismiss jailed minister Senthil Balaji

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has withdrawn his previous order to dismiss Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers without consulting Chief Minister MK Stalin, effectively defusing the bitter standoff with the DMK-led state government. The decision, which initially sparked outrage and legal challenges, has now been put on hold.

The rare move to dismiss the minister was taken last night.

Minister Senthil Balaji, who has been in jail for the past two weeks facing criminal proceedings in an alleged cash-for-jobs scandal, had been retained as a minister without portfolio by Chief Minister MK Stalin. Governor Ravi had unilaterally overridden this decision through an official statement issued by the Raj Bhavan, citing serious criminal charges against Balaji.

However, sources from the Governor's office later revealed that he was consulting the Attorney General on the matter, leading to the reversal of the dismissal order. Senthil Balaji will continue as a minister for the time being.

The Tamil Nadu government had initially planned to challenge the Governor's original order in the Supreme Court, but with the withdrawal of the dismissal, this legal battle is now avoided.

Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly criticised the Governor's actions, emphasising that he does not possess the authority to dismiss a sitting minister and asserting that the government will pursue legal means to address the issue.

DMK leader A Saravanan accused the Governor of undermining the Constitution, dismissing the order of dismissal as insignificant and lacking constitutional validity. He criticised the Governor's conduct and said, "Who does the Governor think he is? Does he have the constitutional authority (to dismiss Senthil Balaji)? The Governor is undermining the constitution... His order isn't even worth the paper it was drafted on. It must be consigned to the dustbin."

A court in Chennai has extended Senthil Balaji's judicial custody until July 12. Earlier, the Supreme Court had granted permission for him to undergo heart surgery at a private hospital, following his treatment at a government hospital for health concerns.

The relationship between the DMK government and the Governor's office has been strained for months, characterised by disagreements on various issues, notably the Governor's refusal to give assent to legislation passed by the state assembly. The DMK had previously lodged a petition with President Droupadi Murmu, accusing Governor Ravi of unconstitutional conduct and failure to sign multiple bills passed by the Assembly.