V Senthil Balaji and Three Others Sworn in as Ministers in Tamil Nadu Government
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 29: DMK leader V Senthil Balaji was sworn in as a minister in the Chief Minister MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government on Sunday. Along with Balaji, DMK MLAs Govi Chezhiaan, R. Rajendran, and SM Nasar took their oaths, administered by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi at Raj Bhavan.
According to an official release, Senthil Balaji will oversee Electricity and Non-Conventional Energy Development, Prohibition & Excise. Govi Chezihaan will serve as Minister for Higher Education, R. Rajendran as Minister for Tourism, and SM Nasar as Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare.
Earlier, on September 26, Senthil Balaji was released from Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to the ‘Cash for Jobs’ scam.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was already a cabinet minister, was elevated to the position of Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday. He will continue to handle Youth Welfare and Sports Development, along with the new portfolio of Planning and Development.
Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed his gratitude, saying, “Last night, the Chief Minister gave me an additional charge, announcing me as the Deputy Chief Minister. Four new ministers are taking oath today and I wish them all the best. I express my gratitude to the Chief Minister. This is not a position but an additional responsibility, my thanks to all who have expressed their wishes.”
However, the reshuffle faced criticism from Tamil Nadu BJP state president Narayanan Thirupathy, who questioned Udhayanidhi Stalin’s maturity for the role. In response, DMK MP Kanimozhi defended the decision, stating that opposition parties should not question CM Stalin’s choices as he has been elected to power.
Doubts Revealed
V Senthil Balaji -: V Senthil Balaji is a politician from Tamil Nadu, a state in India. He is a member of the DMK party and has been given important responsibilities in the government.
DMK -: DMK stands for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. It is a political party in Tamil Nadu, India, known for its Dravidian ideology.
MLA -: MLA stands for Member of Legislative Assembly. These are people elected by voters to represent them in the state government.
CM MK Stalin -: CM MK Stalin is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of the state government and belongs to the DMK party.
Raj Bhavan -: Raj Bhavan is the official residence of the Governor of a state in India. In this case, it is the residence of the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Governor RN Ravi -: RN Ravi is the Governor of Tamil Nadu. The Governor is a representative of the President of India in the state.
Electricity and Non-Conventional Energy Development -: This department handles the production and distribution of electricity and promotes the use of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Prohibition & Excise -: This department deals with laws related to the sale and consumption of alcohol and other intoxicating substances.
Udhayanidhi Stalin -: Udhayanidhi Stalin is a politician and the son of CM MK Stalin. He has been promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Minister.
Deputy Chief Minister -: The Deputy Chief Minister is the second-highest official in the state government, assisting the Chief Minister.
reshuffle -: A reshuffle means changing the positions of people in the government. It can involve promoting, demoting, or changing the responsibilities of ministers.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is a major political party in India, different from the DMK.
Narayanan Thirupathy -: Narayanan Thirupathy is a leader of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. He has criticized the recent changes in the state government.
DMK MP Kanimozhi -: Kanimozhi is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the DMK party. She has defended the government’s decision to reshuffle the ministers.