Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi put on hold the dismissal order of state minister V Senthil Balaji, sources said on Friday. In a late evening communication to the chief minister, the governor said he would consult the attorney general and seek his legal opinion about the move, news agency PTI reported.

"Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi keeps the dismissal order of Minister V Senthil Balaji in abeyance. He will take the advice of the Attorney General on this matter," sources told ANI late Friday.

PHOTO | Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi's letter to Chief Minister MK Stalin, informing about putting on abeyance the order to dismiss minister V Senthil Balaji. pic.twitter.com/3OjgAEM8iq

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 30, 2023

According to reports, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin held a meeting to discuss the ongoing legal tussle between Governor RN Ravi and the state government over Balaji's dismissal as a minister. The meeting was attended by Law Minister S Regupathy, DMK Rajya Sabha MP and Senior advocate NR Elango and TN Advocate General R Shunmagasundhram and several other leaders at Tamil Nadu Secretariat.

The governor had dismissed Balaji from the Council of Ministers on Thursday, days after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. Chief Minister MK Stalin had said the state government would challenge the governor's decision legally.

In an official release, the Raj Bhavan in Chennai had said, "There are reasonable apprehensions that the continuation of V Senthil Balaji in the Council of Ministers will adversely impact the due process of law, including fair investigation that may eventually lead to the breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state."

Balaji "is facing serious criminal proceedings in a number of cases of corruption, including taking cash for jobs and money laundering. Abusing his position as a minister, he has been influencing the investigation and obstructing the due process of law and justice," the release added.

Political row erupts

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said Governor Ravi does not have the powers to dismiss Senthil Balaji. "We will face this legally," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari called fro action against the governor by the President. "The Governor who does not know his limits. The Governor should not have taken such an unconstitutional step. This clearly shows that he does not have knowledge of the Constitution and is unaware of his responsibilities," he added.

Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut said dismissing someone from the government "is the prerogative of the CM". He said the manner in which "the Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi acted, seems to be a step ahead of Bhagat Singh Koshyari. BJP is violating Constitution in states not ruled by it".

#WATCH | Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut speaks on Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi dismissing V Senthil Balaji as a minister; the dismissal order is now in abeyance

He says, "This is wrong. Dismissing someone from the government is the prerogative of the CM. In… pic.twitter.com/TdbMq5W1JN— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2023

AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan also reacted, calling MK Stalin "the most incompetent chief minister of Tamil Nadu". He said, "The governor has initially sent a letter that V Senthil Balaji cannot continue as minister...MK Stalin's double standards are being exposed, when he was in the opposition his stand was different and being in the ruling party his stand is different."

Amid the row, DMK supporters put up posters near Anna Arivalayam, DMK headquarters, in Chennai, raising questions to Governor RN Ravi against Union Ministers who are still in the cabinet with several cases registered against them.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: DMK supporters stick posters near Anna Arivalayam, DMK headquarters in Chennai, raising questions to Governor RN Ravi against Union Ministers who are still in the cabinet with several cases registered against them. pic.twitter.com/M7xKqTrpzg

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2023

What led to Senthil Balaji arrest?

The ED arrested Balaji under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Chennai on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, it launched searches at his premises and those linked to him in Chennai and some other locations. The state minister was later remanded in judicial custody till June 28 by a sessions court judge.

The ED accused Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji of "misusing" his office for illegal gratification and "engineering" a job racket scam in the state transport undertakings (STU) during 2014-15. The ED told a court earlier that the minister is the "prime suspect" in the cash-for-jobs case.

Read more about the case here

First Published:Jun 30, 2023 7:57 AM IST