A day after a tussle ensued between the government and Raj Bhavan over Senthil Balaji continuing as the Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday said that Governor only acts as the voice of BJP in the state. He said that the state has released a government order stating that Senthil Balaji would continue as Minister without portfolio.
According to ANI, Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “State govt has already released GO (Government Order) that Senthil Balaji would continue as Minister without portfolio. Governor only acts as the voice of BJP in the state."
Earlier, Governor RN Ravi accepted the allocation of portfolios that were with Senthil Balaji to other Tamil Nadu Ministers but denied the nod for Senthil Balaji to continue as a Minister. In a release, Raj Bhavan said, “Based on the recommendations of the Chief Minister the subjects of "Electricity, Non-Conventional Energy Development" dealt with by V Senthilbalaji, has been allocated to Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management, in addition to the portfolios already held by him. Further, the subjects "Prohibition and Excise Molasses" hitherto held by V Senthilbalaji, have been allocated to S Muthusamy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development in addition to the subjects already held by him.”
“However, the Governor has not agreed V Senthilbalaji to continue any longer as a Member of the Council of Ministers, as he is facing criminal proceedings for moral turpitude and is currently in Judicial custody,” it said.