In a surprising turn of events, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has taken back an order announcing the dismissal of Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers without consulting Chief Minister MK Stalin, according to sources. The decision came amid a bitter standoff between the state’s DMK government and the Governor’s office. Mr. Balaji, who is currently in jail facing corruption charges in a cash-for-jobs scandal, had been retained as a minister without portfolio by Chief Minister Stalin, a move that the Governor had unilaterally decided to override.
The Raj Bhavan, in an official statement, cited the serious criminal proceedings against Mr. Balaji, including allegations of corruption and money laundering, as the reason for his dismissal. However, late-night sources from the Governor’s office stated that he was consulting the Attorney General on the matter, and the decision to dismiss Mr. Balaji was put on hold. As a result, Mr. Balaji will continue to hold the ministerial position for now.
The Tamil Nadu government had reportedly planned to challenge the original order in the Supreme Court, disregarding the Governor’s decision. Chief Minister Stalin criticized the Governor’s actions, asserting that he does not have the authority to dismiss a sitting minister, and vowed to handle the matter legally.
DMK leader A Saravanan accused the Governor of undermining the Constitution, calling the dismissal order “not even worth the paper it was drafted on.” He criticized the Governor for acting in a partisan manner and appeasing his political masters, urging that such orders be discarded.
The relationship between the DMK government and the Governor’s office has been strained for months, marked by disagreements over various issues, including the Governor’s refusal to assent to legislation passed by the state assembly. The DMK has previously raised concerns about the Governor’s conduct and failure to sign numerous bills, deeming it a “constitutional perversion.”
Similar tensions between opposition-led states and Governors or Lieutenant Governors appointed by the central government have been observed in West Bengal, Telangana, and Kerala, where allegations of partisan actions have been made.
It remains to be seen how this latest development will impact the already contentious relationship between the DMK government and the Governor’s office in Tamil Nadu.
Sources BY Agencies
