Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling party DMK has launched a poster war against Governor RN Ravi, questioning his move to sack jailed minister and party leader V Senthil Balaji, who has been accused in a money laundering case. and has been arrested. Posters put up by DMK workers across Chennai questioning the constitutional right of the governor to sack a minister without consulting the chief minister. He also took photographs of Union Ministers who are still serving as Ministers in the face of several cases registered against them in various courts.
#Watch , Tamil Nadu: DMK supporters pasted posters near Anna Arivalayam, DMK headquarter in Chennai, questioning Governor RN Ravi against Union ministers who are still in the cabinet and have several cases against them. pic.twitter.com/M7xKqTrpzg— ANI (@ANI) 30 June 2023
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Meanwhile, the Congress party has demanded the immediate resignation of the Tamil Nadu Governor and urged President Draupadi Murmu to sack him. Congress MP Manish Tewari said, “The President should immediately remove Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. Governor who does not know his limits. The Governor should not take such an unconstitutional step. This clearly shows that he is not aware of the Constitution.” ” And unaware of his responsibilities”
#Watch , Delhi: Congress MP Manish Tewari says, “The President should immediately remove Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. Governor who does not know his limits. Governor should not take such an unconstitutional step. This clearly shows that he is not aware of Is…” pic.twitter.com/KIhTsj6TdM— ANI (@ANI) 30 June 2023
Tamil Nadu Governor withdraws dismissal order
In a dramatic late-night development, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi withdrew the controversial order sacking jailed minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji, who was accused and arrested in a money laundering case. Sources claimed that the governor late night decided to keep the dismissal order in abeyance till further communication and also informed Chief Minister MK Stalin about it. Sources also claimed that Governor RN Ravi will now consult the Attorney General in this matter and Balaji will continue to be a minister.
The development came hours after the governor sacked V Senthil Balaji, accused in a money laundering case, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. A release issued said, “Minister V Senthil Balaji is facing serious criminal proceedings in several cases of corruption including cash-for-jobs and money laundering… In these circumstances, the Governor has removed him from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect.” has been dismissed.” By Raj Bhavan in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, BJP has welcomed the decision of the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Balaji, who was arrested two weeks ago, is currently in jail amid criminal proceedings in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. Interestingly, Chief Minister MK Stalin had retained him as a minister without portfolio, which Governor Ravi decided to dismiss unilaterally.
CM Stalin attacked the governor
Attacking Governor RN Ravi over the sacking of jailed minister Senthil Balaji, Stalin said he had no right to do so and his government would proceed legally in the matter. The minister was arrested in a cash-for-job scam case. Speaking to reporters in the wake of the arrest of fellow DMK leader, CM Stalin said, “The governor does not have the authority (to sack a sitting minister) and we will face it legally.”
#view | Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on sacking of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji by Governor RN Ravi: “Governor does not have authority, we will face it legally.” https://t.co/ba818uQX8t pic.twitter. com/B4NXeYM3kI
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2023
Also attacking the governor, DMK leader A Saravanan accused the governor of undermining the Constitution and said that the order to sack Balaji from the state council of ministers was not even worth the paper on which it was prepared.
“Who does the Governor consider himself? Does he have the constitutional authority (to sack Senthil Balaji)? The Governor is undermining the Constitution. He is serving Sanatan Dharma. The law of the country is not determined by Sanatan Dharma For a governor, the constitution should be the Bible, the Gita and the Koran. He is acting like a buffoon, trying to please his political masters. His order is not even worth the paper on which it is drafted was prepared. It should be sent to the dustbin,” the DMK leader said.
Congress leader Manish Tewari also criticized the sacking of the jailed minister, tweeting, “Article 164 of the COI” The Chief Minister will be appointed by the Governor and other ministers will be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. ..Since the ministers are appointed on the advice of the CM, they can be removed only on the advice of the CM. Unconstitutional government.”
Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 in connection with the cash-for-jobs scam case. He was later admitted to a government hospital in Chennai after he complained of chest pain. He was allowed to be shifted to a private hospital of his choice by the Madras High Court on 15 June. The Supreme Court, earlier this month, refused to interfere with the Madras High Court order allowing Balaji to be taken to a private hospital in Chennai and the habeas corpus petition filed against his arrest was accepted.
The MK Stalin-led DMK government is at loggerheads with the governor’s office amid disagreement over several issues, notably, the governor’s refusal to give assent to a law passed by the state assembly. The DMK had last year petitioned President Draupadi Murmu, accusing Governor Ravi of unconstitutional conduct and his failure to sign a large number of bills passed by the Assembly.