TN Cabinet reshuffle: Senthilbalaji retains EB and TASMAC, Govi Chezhiaan gets higher education

CHENNAI: High-profile DMK leader V Senthilbalaji, who was days ago granted bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case, was sworn in as minister by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi here on Sunday.

48-year-old Senthilbalaji has been assigned the same key portfolio of 'electricity, non-conventional energy development, prohibition & excise,' which he held previously in the Stalin cabinet.

Three other DMK legislators, R Rajendran (Salem-North), Govi Chezhiaan (Thiruvidaimarudur) and S M Nasar (Avadi) also took oath of office and secrecy administered by Governor Ravi at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan.

They were sworn-in in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, his son Udhayanidhi, who had already been designated as Deputy Chief Minister.

Debutant minister Dr Govi Chezhiaan (58), an orator, party office-bearer and chief government whip, has been allotted the higher education portfolio including technical education, electronics, science and technology. He would be the first Dalit to hold the coveted portfolio ever since the higher education department was created by bifurcating the education portfolio. Chezhiaan is a three-time MLA, first elected in 2011, and was representing Thiruvidaimaruthur reserve constituency in Thanjavur district.

Another debutant minister R Rajendran (65) was allocated tourism, sugar and sugarcane excise and sugarcane development portfolios. Also, known as Salem Rajendran, he is a party worker since his student days and has held various party positions, including in the youth wing. He is a lawyer and a third time MLA. One of the DMK secretaries of Salem district, he was lone MLA from the native district of Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Former minister S M Nasar (64), a well-known party face from Avadi here, was given the portfolios of minorities welfare, non-resident Tamils welfare, refugees and evacuees and Wakf Board.

Ministers of the state cabinet, alliance party leaders, senior bureaucrats and senior members of the DMK attended the event at the Durbar Hall in Raj Bhavan. DMK deputy general secretary K Ponmudy who was stripped off the higher education portfolio and allocated a relatively insignificant Forests portfolio and DMK Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu were also present. Also, leaders of DMK's alliance parties including Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan and MDMK general secretary Vaiko took part.

Significantly, state IT minister Palanivel Thiagarajan was absent at the swearing-in ceremony owing to the reported illness of a member of his family, which, government sources said, was communicated by the minister from Madurai to the Chief Minister over phone.

Post the ceremony, Governor RN Ravi and Chief Minister M K Stalin took a group photograph with the ministers. Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was elevated as deputy CM of Tamil Nadu yesterday, was seen seated to the left of Governor Ravi in the photo.

The ED had arrested Senthilbalaji, representing Karur Assembly constituency, on June 14, 2023, in a money laundering case linked to a cash for jobs scam when he was transport minister during the previous AIADMK regime (2011-15).

Balaji, after a stint with TTV Dhinakaran led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, joined the DMK in 2018 and following his arrest, he was designated minister without portfolio. On February 13, 2024, Governor accepted Balaji's resignation from the council of ministers. On September 26, the Supreme Court granted bail to Balaji, which ended his 471-day incarceration.

In May 2023, Nasar was dropped from the cabinet and at that time, he was the Milk and Dairy Development Minister.

K Ramachandran, who was dropped from the Cabinet on September 28, was on Sunday named as chief government whip. Ramachandran was previously the tourism minister.

All the four legislators made a solemn affirmation while taking the oath in Tamil. Officials led by Tamil Nadu chief secretary N Muruganandam were present.

In the Cabinet reshuffle exercise conducted on Saturday, Chief Minister Stalin dropped three ministers (T Mano Thangaraj, Gingee KS Masthan and K Ramachandran) and inducted four - Senthilbalaji and three others. Including the chief minister, the Cabinet strength is 35.

(With additional inputs from PTI)