In a much-awaited move, Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister MK Stalin, has been promoted to the post of deputy chief minister in the state government. This comes after weeks of speculation about Udhayanidhi's possible elevation. The DMK government has also re-inducted Senthil Balaji, a former transport minister who was recently granted bail in a money laundering case. As part of the cabinet reshuffle, three new ministers will be inducted and three others have been dropped, according to a Raj Bhavan release.
On Saturday evening, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced the promotion of his son Udhayanidhi Stalin to the position of Deputy Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu. The cabinet reshuffle also saw the addition of Dr Govi Chezhiaan as the fourth Dalit minister. This decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing power consolidation within the ruling DMK, solidifying Udhayanidhi's growing influence within the party and the government. However, there are concerns about potential internal party tensions and the balance of power in the cabinet. Udhayanidhi's rise also comes amid national attention for his controversial remarks on Sanatana Dharma's role in perpetuating the caste system.
The Supreme Court granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. The court highlighted that bail is the rule and jail is the exception, and that the delay in trial and the higher threshold under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for granting bail cannot go together. The judgement also noted the extraordinary powers of the Constitutional Courts in cases where there is an unreasonable delay in trial. In this case, the court has imposed strict conditions considering Balaji's influential position and the possibility of tampering with evidence.
After 471 days in prison, former Tamil Nadu Transport Minister Senthil Balaji was granted bail by the Supreme Court. Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his support for Balaji, accusing the Enforcement Directorate of targeting political opponents. DMK leader TKS Elangovan criticized the BJP government for misusing their power in handling cases involving their own party members. The ruling DMK party has stood by Balaji, claiming that the case against him is a politically-motivated effort to weaken the party.