Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 16: The change of portfolio of the arrested DMK minister in Tamil Nadu became a fresh flashpoint between the MK Stalin government and the governor RN Ravi after governor turned down the chief minister’s proposal to keep excise minister V Senthil Balaji as a minister without portfolio and distribute his current workload among two other ministers.
Balaji was arrested on Wednesday by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case. He is currently in hospital after he was advised a CABG-bypass surgery. He had complained of chest pains and was taken for a medical check-up on the way.
On Thursday, Stalin had written to the Governor, recommending a reallocation of the portfolios of electricity and prohibition held by Balaji, to Ministers Thangam Thennarasu and S Muthusamy. In his response, the BJP-appointed governor Ravi had mentioned that the government’s letter was incorrect and misleading and wanted that on being arrested Balaji should be dropped from the cabinet. The government then wrote back, saying change of portfolio was the Chief Minister’s prerogative.
In a related development, the Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Friday lashed out at the Chief Minister for his critical remarks against the BJP, saying he spoke like an “ordinary platform speaker.” Annamalai, a former IPS officer, also questioned the Tamil Nadu government withdrawing the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), reminding Stalin’s numerous demands made as an opposition leader for the agency probe on many issues.
Annamalai was responding to MK Stalin’s strident attack against the BJP on Thursday, in a video, over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arresting Balaji in a money laundering case.
MK Stalin, president of the DMK, had said provoking the party and its workers could have its own repercussions, telling the BJP it was not a threat but a warning. Annamalai said words like “daring someone” are used by ordinary platform speakers to keep the crowd engaged. “But respected Stalin, ponder over whether your speaking like this suits the chief minister post being held by you,” the BJP leader said in a statement.
The DMK, founded in 1949, has been in the ruling saddle and the opposition over the years, he pointed out. “As someone well aware of all laws and probe procedures and with a 30 year legislative experience, is it fair for you to talk like a second-level (platform) speaker to protect someone (Balaji) who has shifted five parties,” Annamalai asked.
He wondered why MK Stalin was batting for a man accused in a particular case and sought to remind him he had not made any statement when Income Tax officials were allegedly assaulted when they came to conduct searches at some places linked to Balaji’s brother and acquaintances last month.
In fact, the ED searches against Balaji was pertaining to allegations raised by Stalin in 2016 against Balaji, who was not in DMK then, seeking action. “What has changed in seven years? Now, that action has been taken on your plea, shouldn’t it have been welcomed on behalf of your party,” Annamalai asked.
On the issue of TN withdrawing general consent to the CBI, the BJP leader said the decision has been taken in “haste.” As an opposition leader during the AIADMK regime, Stalin had sought a CBI probe into matters including the death of then CM J Jayalalithaa, a building collapse in the city, investigation against then ministers, the gutkha scam, Tuticorin police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters and several others.
On the issue of the governor shooting down the CM’s recommendations the state government said, “The Chief Minister has the right to decide on the portfolio allocations or in inducting a minister or dropping a minister from the council of ministers, as per constitution and not the Governor.” “The Governor, who ought to know the constitution, should have accepted the Chief Minister’s recommendation on the portfolio reallocation. But the Governor is acting like the agent of the BJP government at the Centre,” it added.
“Merely because a minister faces a case, he can’t be removed. Was home minister Amit Shah who faced a case when he was a state minister, sacked?” he questioned, also citing that many AIADMK ministers who faced cases, were not sacked.
Ahead of Mr Balaji’s arrest, the Governor had written to Mr Stalin. His letter dated May 31 had proposed that Balaji be dropped from the council of ministers. In response, Stalin had cited Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several other Union ministers, who were in office despite pending cases against them. The opposition AIADMK and its ally BJP have already demanded the removal of Mr Balaji from the cabinet.
The face-off between the Governor and Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu follows similar situations in multiple opposition-ruled states. The one that makes the maximum headlines is Delhi, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been at loggerheads with three successive Lieutenant Governors since him Aam Aadmi Party government came to power.
Meanwhile, the Principal District Sessions Court, Chennai, on Friday allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to conduct “custodial interrogation” for eight days (until June 23) with Balaji who is hospitalised. The ED had also summoned Senthil Balaji’s brother R. V. Ashok Kumar, and others for questioning next week in connection to the money laundering case.
Senthil Balaji was arrested on Wednesday by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in an alleged cash for jobs case registered against him when he was the Transport Minister (2011-15) in the earlier AIADMK cabinet led by Jayalalithaa. Senthil Balaji has been in judicial remand and is admitted to Kauvery Hospital. In the meantime, the ED sought the custodial interrogation of the minister. The ED said in its petition that his custodial interrogation might reveal crucial facts.
The petition, filed by Karthik Dasari, Deputy Director, ED, who is also the investigation officer, said based on the investigation conducted so far, the role of Senthil Balaji appeared crucial for the probe. The petition said it was also apparent that he was guilty of the offence of money laundering. Considering his “non-cooperation” in the investigation, his custodial interrogation was required for further investigation, it said.
Principal Sessions Judge S. Alli had heard the views of the arrested minister, who was produced through video conferencing, on Thursday and enquired about his willingness to go for custodial interrogation. His counsel had objected to the custodial interrogation citing his health condition. The court also recorded the sworn statement of Mr. Karthik Dasari. Pronouncing the order on the petition filed by the ED, Ms Alli allowed the plea of ED to conduct custodial interrogation with Mr. Senthil Balaji at the place where he has been hospitalised.
