Tamil Nadu ministers V Senthil Balaji, K Ponmudy resign

Tamil Nadu ministers K Ponmudy and V Senthil Balaji submitted their resignations from the state’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government on Sunday, The Hindu reported.

The Supreme Court had on April 23 warned Balaji that his bail in a money-laundering case would be cancelled if he did not resign from his post. Ponmudy, on the other, had come under criticism from the Madras High Court and within the DMK for his allegedly defamatory remarks about women and two denominations of Hinduism.

While Ponmudy held the forest portfolio, Balaji handled the electricity, prohibition and excise departments.

On Sunday, a release from the Raj Bhavan said that Chief Minister MK Stalin made a recommendation for Governor RN Ravi to accept their resignations, according to The Hindu. Stalin also recommended the induction of former minister Mano Thangaraj into the Cabinet, with the swearing-in to be held on April 28.

Ponmudy’s portfolio was allotted to Milk and Dairy Development Minister RS Rajakannappan while Transport Minister S Sivasankar will handle the electricity department held by Balaji. Housing and Urban Development Minister S Muthusamy will take over the prohibition and excise departments.

On April 23, the Supreme Court had asked Balaji to decide “between his minister post and liberty” by Monday. The petitioners had argued that witnesses in the case might be facing intimidation because Balaji...

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