Senthil Balaji, three others sworn in as ministers in Stalin’s Cabinet

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

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Notably, 48-year-old Senthil Balaji 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, Govi Chezhiaan (Thiruvidaimarudur), R Rajendran (Salem-North) and SM Nasar (Avadi) also took oath of office and secrecy administered by Governor Ravi in a simple ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan.

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

Govi Chezhiaan has been allotted higher education, including technical education, electronics, science and technology, which was previously held by K Ponmudy (now minister for forests). Rajendran (65) has been allotted the tourism portfolio. Sixty-four-year-old Nasar, a well-known party face from Avadi here, has been made the minister for minorities welfare and non-resident Tamils welfare.

The ED had arrested Senthil Balaji 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).