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 put up of deputy chief minister and re-inducted former transport minister Senthil Balaji, two days after he received bail in a cash laundering case.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, whose elevation has been spoken about for weeks, has been given cost of the Planning and Growth ministry – along with his present Youth Welfare and Sports activities Growth portfolio – and has been designated the deputy chief minister of the state.
It’s not but clear what portfolio can 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 underneath late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. He was launched on bail on Thursday by the Supreme Court docket, 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 Growth, Gingee Masthan, Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare and Ok Ramachandran, Minister for Tourism, have been dropped and three new faces, Govi Chezhiaan, R Rajendran and SM Nasar, can be inducted.
A Raj Bhavan launch stated Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has accredited 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 12 months, through which 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 standard 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 ailments final 12 months, started to collect tempo, the DMK began attracting barbs of dynastic politics from the AIADMK and the BJP. The occasion has, nonetheless, disregarded the cost, saying that he’s a democratically-elected MLA and the chief minister has the prerogative to determine his cupboard.
Occasion sources additionally identified that as sports activities minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin has been credited with remodeling Chennai into a global sporting hub and bringing in occasions just like the Hero Asian Champions Trophy for hockey, seaside volleyball and Components 4 Night time Road Racing.
