Senthil Balaji had been granted bail in a cash laundering case on Thursday.
Chennai:
Proving twin speculations true in a single go, the DMK-led Tamil Nadu authorities has elevated Sports activities Minister and Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, to the publish of deputy chief minister and re-inducted former transport minister Senthil Balaji, two days after he acquired bail in a cash laundering case.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, whose elevation has been spoken about for weeks, has been given cost of the Planning and Improvement ministry – along with his present Youth Welfare and Sports activities Improvement portfolio – and has been designated the deputy chief minister of the state.
It isn’t but clear what portfolio shall be given to Mr Balaji, who had been behind bars for 15 months after being accused of cash laundering by the Enforcement Directorate for his involvement within the alleged cash-for-jobs rip-off that occurred throughout the AIADMK regime beneath late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. He was launched on bail on Thursday by the Supreme Courtroom, which stated “stringent and better threshold of bail and delay in prosecution can not go collectively”.
As a part of the cupboard reshuffle introduced on Saturday, T Mano Thangaraj, Minister for Milk and Dairy Improvement, Gingee Masthan, Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare and Okay Ramachandran, Minister for Tourism, have been dropped and three new faces, Govi Chezhiaan, R Rajendran and SM Nasar, shall be inducted.
A Raj Bhavan launch stated Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has authorised the chief minister’s suggestions and the swearing-in ceremony will happen at 3.30 pm on Sunday.
Ballot Preparation
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation is being seen as a part of the DMK’s preparation for the 2026 Meeting elections and an effort to strengthen its second-rung management. The Stalin scion – a first-time MLA – had dispelled speak of his lack of political acumen by main the marketing campaign for the Lok Sabha elections earlier this yr, wherein the DMK-led alliance swept all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, and had additionally performed key roles within the 2021 Meeting elections and 2019 basic elections.
The promotion can be being learn as a transfer to counter fashionable Tamil actor Vijay, who launched his occasion, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in August, and is ready to make his electoral debut within the 2026 state polls.
As speak of the elevation of Mr Stalin, who had stirred a row by likening Sanatana Dharma to some illnesses final yr, started to collect tempo, the DMK began attracting barbs of dynastic politics from the AIADMK and the BJP. The occasion has, nevertheless, dismissed the cost, saying that he’s a democratically-elected MLA and the chief minister has the prerogative to resolve his cupboard.