Governor has powers to drop Senthil Balaji from cabinet: Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu BJP state president K Annamalai on Sunday said governor R N Ravi had the powers to remove electricity minister V Senthil Balaji from the state cabinet.


Annamalai along with BJP legislative party leader Nainar Nagendran and functionaries from the BJP's women wing met the governor at the Raj Bhavan and submitted two memorandums, including the demand to drop Senthil Balaji and minorities welfare minister Gingee K S Mastan.

After meeting the governor, Annamalai told reporters that the council of ministers served at the pleasure of the governor. “We have requested the governor to relieve Senthil Balaji from the cabinet since he acted against his oath of office and the Indian Constitution. To take the case (cash-for-job scam) to a logical conclusion, the governor must recommend chief minister M K Stalin to remove Senthil Balaji from the cabinet and give the police a free hand to investigate the case," said Annamalai.

Asked whether there were provisions in the Indian Constitution for governors to remove a minister from the cabinet, Annamalai said since governors appointed the council of ministers, they could remove them as well. "The Governor has the duty of protecting the Constitution. The Supreme Court has given a clear verdict on this and we believe that the governor has the power to do so," said Annamalai.

Asked whether there was any such precedent of governors removing ministers, Annamalai replied that the cash-for-job scam against Senthil Balaji itself had no precedent in the entire country and so the BJP believed that the governor had powers to remove the minister.

Annamalai reiterated his charge that the state police under the chief minister had no independence to investigate the case. "In the last two years, the hands of the police have been tied. The entire government machinery has been misused in the case," said Annamalai.

Asked whether BJP had plans to project toddy as an alternative to liquor, Annamalai replied that in the white paper to be submitted to the state government BJP would suggest toddy (both palm and coconut) as an alternative.

Explaining the demand to remove Mastan, Annamalai alleged, “All those accused in the Marakanam illicit arrack case are linked to Mastan."