Senthilbalaji resigns from Cabinet

CHENNAI: DMK MLA and Minister without portfolio V Senthilbalaji, who has been in prison since June 14 last year in connection with a money laundering case probed by the Enforcement Directorate, has resigned from the State Cabinet.

According to reliable DMK sources, Senthil Balaji sent his resignation to Chief Minister M K Stalin. However, the resignation, government sources revealed, has not been officially forwarded to the Raj Bhavan by the state Public department.

The resignation comes a day prior to the hearing of his bail plea in the PMLA case. Balaji, who was the Electricity and Prohibition Minister till June last year, has remained as a Minister without portfolio since his arrest.

The influential DMK strongman's arrest and the CM's decision to retain him in the cabinet has been a topic of hot debate in state politics after the opposition demanded the CM to sack him.

The issue saw a twist months ago when Governor R N Ravi unilaterally issued an order for sacking Balaji only to revert his decision overnight following strong objections to his Constitutional overreach.

The Madras High Court also took a critical view of the ex-EB Minister remaining a minister without portfolio in the incumbent Cabinet.

An influential leader in the DMK ranks, Balaji would be second in the DMK cabinet ranks to lose the ministerial berth after party deputy General Secretary K Ponmudy who lost even his MLA post upon his conviction in a Disproportionate Assets case.

According to party sources privy to the development, the resignation has been prompted by the bail case hearing as well as the continued criticism of the Opposition about his continuing as a Minister without portfolio and allegedly enjoying the benefits of the Minister, mainly the government bungalow.