Latest news with #Shaivite-Vaishnavite
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mano Thangaraj sworn-in as minister in Tamil Nadu cabinet
Padmanabhapuram DMK MLA T Mano Thangaraj, who was dropped from the cabinet in September 2024, was sworn-in as a minister and re-inducted in the MK Stalin-led cabinet. This comes a day after the resignation of Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy from the cabinet. Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office to Thangaraj, who was removed as Milk and Dairy Development minister in the previous rejig of the cabinet. He was allotted the same portfolio on Monday. The event also saw chief minister MK Stalin and governor Ravi meet for the first time post the DMK government securing a favourable verdict in the Supreme Court against the latter delaying assent to various Bills adopted in the state assembly. The CM and governor shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. The governor on Sunday approved chief minister Stalin's recommendation on their resignation, a communique from the Raj Bhavan said. The resignations came days after Senthil Balaji, facing ED probe in a cash-for-jobs case in an earlier AIADMK regime, was asked by the Supreme Court on Wednesday to make a choice 'between post and freedom' as it had warned him of cancelling bail if he did not step down as minister. 'When you were a minister, categorical findings have been recorded against you in the manner in which you brought about settlement and the proceedings are quashed. Grant of bail does not mean power to influence witnesses. In the past, you have influenced witnesses,' the bench had said. The top court, as a result, offered him a choice. 'So, you have to make a choice between the post and the freedom. Such drastic findings are recorded against you in capacity as a minister,' the bench had said while hearing pleas to recall Balaji's bail on the ground that he influenced witnesses in the case. Ponmudy, a senior Darvida Munnetra Kazhgam leader, courted a major controversy recently over his Shaivite-Vaishnavite remarks, drawing widespread criticism, even as the Madras high court later initiated proceedings on its own on the matter. Transport minister S S Sivasankar will handle Electricity portfolio, held by Senthil Balaji. Further, housing minister S Muthusamy has been allotted excise and prohibition, also held by Senthil Balaji. RS Rajakannappan has been allotted Ponmudy's forests and Khadi, in addition to his existing milk and dairy development portfolio, the release said. 'The minor reshuffle balances communities within the cabinet,' said political analyst Maalan Narayanan. 'With Sivasankar, Muthusamy, and Rajakannappan, Stalin has reached out to the dominant Vanniyar, Gounder, and Yadava communities, respectively. The Vanniyar community is a vote bank of NDA ally Pattali Makkal Katchi and with the AIADMK joining the NDA again on April 11, it is key for the DMK to also build support among the Vanniyars who are dominant in the northern and western region.' (ATTRIBUTION) 'And, with Thangaraj they are looking at Christian votes, the region of Kanyakumari. The undercurrent is that Christians may largely support Vijay who is also a Christian and the DMK has no real strategy so far against TVK,' he said. Ponmudy, a strongman Villupuram district strongman, is one of the DMK's old hands who entered the Tamil Nadu cabinet for the first time in 1989. 'He is on the verge of retirement with the next generation of leaders in the DMK taking charge so it is a good riddance for the party concerning him. Ponmudi had also created rivals in Villupuram and was overly pushing for his son,'Maalan said. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ponmudy's son Gautam Sigamani was denied nomination for Kallakurichi parliamentary seat. However, he was appointed as the DMK's secretary for Villupuram (East) district. 'But Balaji won't be affected like Ponmudi. He may be a blemish but he brings the funds to the party either directly or indirectly which is required for elections. His hold in his native Karur is built from scratch. Loyalty will count more than morality here,' the analyst said. 'DMK wouldn't want to lose him. They will let the legal cases reach its logical conclusion. Balaji won't be a minister but he will move freely. He will continue to be close to the CM, the party high command,' he added.
The Print
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Senthil Balaji, Ponmudy resign from Cabinet, TN governor accepts Stalin's bid for Thangaraj
Senthil Balaji, facing ED probe, had been asked by the Supreme Court on Wednesday to make a choice 'between post and freedom' as it warned him of cancelling bail if he did not step down as minister. Governor R N Ravi has approved Chief Minister Stalin's recommendation to accept their resignation, a Raj Bhavan communique said. Chennai: Tamil Nadu Ministers V Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy have resigned from the M K Stalin-led state cabinet and the Governor has accepted the same, the Raj Bhavan said on Sunday. Ponmudy had courted a major controversy over his Shaivite-Vaishnavite remarks made in the context of a sex worker, drawing widespread criticism, even as the Madras High Court later initiated proceedings on its own on the matter. Though he had been removed from a key party post, there were demands from opposition parties and other quarters, for his ouster from the cabinet. Transport Minister S S Sivasankar will handle Electricity portfolio, held by Senthil Balaji. Further, Housing Minister S Muthusamy has been allotted Excise and Prohibition, also held by Senthil Balaji. R S Rajakannappan has been allotted Ponmudy's Forests and Khadi, in addition to his existing Milk and Dairy Development portfolio, the release said. Further, the Governor has accepted the CM's recommendation to include Padmanabhapuram MLA T Mano Thangaraj in the cabinet, it said. He was dropped in an earlier rejig of the cabinet. The swearing-in of the minister designate will be held at 6 PM on Monday, it added. PTI SA KH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: TN Governor Ravi alleges police threatened university VCs not to participate in conference
News18
28-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
Tamil Nadu Cabinet Reshuffle: Mano Thangaraj Takes Oath As Minister In Stalin's Government
Agency: PTI This comes a day after Tamil Nadu Ministers V Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy resigned on Sunday, in the wake of the court cases against them. Padmanabhapuram DMK MLA T Mano Thangaraj was on Monday sworn-in as minister, and re-inducted in the M K Stalin-led Tamil Nadu cabinet in a minor reshuffle post the resignation of two senior ministers. Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office to Thangaraj, who was removed as Milk and Dairy Development minister in the previous rejig of the cabinet. Incidentally he was allotted the same portfolio on Monday. The event also saw Chief Minister M K Stalin and Governor Ravi meet for the first time post the DMK government securing a favourable verdict in the Supreme Court against the latter delaying assent to various Bills adopted in the state Assembly. The CM and Governor shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, senior minister Duraimurugan among others attended the swearing-in. The Raj Bhavan later said that Thangaraj has been allotted Milk and Dairy Development. The Governor approved the subject allocation on the recommendation of the CM, an official release said. On Sunday, Tamil Nadu Ministers V Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy resigned, in the wake of the court cases against them. Senthil Balaji, facing ED probe in a cash-for-jobs scam in an earlier AIADMK regime, had been asked by the Supreme Court last week to make a choice "between post and freedom" as it had warned him of cancelling bail if he did not step down as minister. Ponmudy, a senior DMK leader, had courted a major controversy recently over his Shaivite-Vaishnavite remarks made in the context of a sex worker, drawing widespread criticism, even as the Madras High Court later initiated proceedings on its own on the matter. The portfolios held by Balaji– Electricity, Excise and Prohibition, had been allotted to SS Sivasankar and S Muthusamy, respectively. Ponmudy's Forest and Khadi portfolios will be handled by RS Rajakannappan, who was hitherto the Dairy Development minister. Further, the Governor had accepted the CM's recommendation to include Thangaraj in the cabinet. He represents the Padmanabhapuram Assembly constituency in Kanyakumari district and had been the IT Minister when the DMK assumed power in 2021. First Published:
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TN Cabinet reshuffle: Mano Thangaraj sworn-in as minister in Stalin-led cabinet
CHENNAI: Padmanabhapuram DMK MLA T Mano Thangaraj was on Monday sworn-in as minister, and re-inducted in the M K Stalin-led Tamil Nadu cabinet in a minor reshuffle post the resignation of two senior ministers. Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office to Thangaraj, who was removed as Milk and Dairy Development minister in the previous rejig of the cabinet. Incidentally he was allotted the same portfolio on Monday. The event also saw Chief Minister M K Stalin and Governor Ravi meet for the first time post against the latter delaying assent to various Bills adopted in the state Assembly. The CM and Governor shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, senior minister Duraimurugan among others attended the swearing-in. The Raj Bhavan later said that Thangaraj has been allotted Milk and Dairy Development. The Governor approved the subject allocation on the recommendation of the CM, an official release said. On Sunday Senthil Balaji, facing ED probe in a cash-for-jobs scam in an earlier AIADMK regime, had been asked by the Supreme Court last week to make a choice "between post and freedom" as it had warned him of cancelling bail if he did not step down as minister. Ponmudy, a senior DMK leader, had courted a major controversy recently over his Shaivite-Vaishnavite remarks made in the context of a sex worker, drawing widespread criticism, even as the Madras High Court later initiated proceedings on its own on the matter. The portfolios held by Balaji-- Electricity, Excise and Prohibition, had been allotted to SS Sivasankar and S Muthusamy, respectively. Ponmudy's Forest and Khadi portfolios will be handled by RS Rajakannappan, who was hitherto the Dairy Development minister. Further, the Governor had accepted the CM's recommendation to include Thangaraj in the cabinet. He represents the Padmanabhapuram Assembly constituency in Kanyakumari district and had been the IT Minister when the DMK assumed power in 2021.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Senthil, Ponmudy resign from Tamil Nadu cabinet in rejig
Tamil Nadu ministers Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy on Sunday stepped down from the chief minister MK Stalin-led state cabinet, with the move necessitating a cabinet reshuffle. Governor RN Ravi approved chief minister Stalin's recommendation on their resignation, a communique from the Raj Bhavan said. The resignations came days after Senthil Balaji, facing ED probe in a cash-for-jobs case in an earlier AIADMK regime, was asked by the Supreme Court on Wednesday to make a choice 'between post and freedom' as it had warned him of cancelling bail if he did not step down as minister. 'When you were a minister, categorical findings have been recorded against you in the manner in which you brought about settlement and the proceedings are quashed. Grant of bail does not mean power to influence witnesses. In the past, you have influenced witnesses,' the bench had said. The top court, as a result, offered him a choice. 'So, you have to make a choice between the post and the freedom. Such drastic findings are recorded against you in capacity as a minister,' the bench had said while hearing pleas to recall Balaji's bail on the ground that he influenced witnesses in the case. Balaji was sworn in as a minister by Ravi on September 29, 2024 after being granted bail by the SC. He earlier resigned in February 2024, months after remaining as a minister without portfolio in the wake of his June 2023 arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Upon his re-induction last year, he was assigned the same key portfolios — electricity, non-conventional energy development, prohibition and excise that he held previously in the Stalin cabinet. Ponmudy, a senior Darvida Munnetra Kazhgam leader, courted a major controversy recently over his Shaivite-Vaishnavite remarks, drawing widespread criticism, even as the Madras high court later initiated proceedings on its own on the matter. Though he was removed from a key party post, there were demands from opposition parties and other quarters, for his ouster from the cabinet. Transport minister S S Sivasankar will handle Electricity portfolio, held by Senthil Balaji. Further, housing minister S Muthusamy has been allotted excise and prohibition, also held by Senthil Balaji. RS Rajakannappan has been allotted Ponmudy's forests and Khadi, in addition to his existing milk and dairy development portfolio, the release said. Further, the Governor has accepted the CM's recommendation to include Padmanabhapuram MLA T Mano Thangaraj in the cabinet, it said. He was dropped in an earlier rejig of the cabinet. The swearing-in of the minister designate will be held at 6pm on Monday, it added. Responding to the development, principal opposition party AIADMK said Ponmudy stepping down was a victory for its various protests against him. Balaji's exit was a 'justice' ensured through the court, it said on its official 'X' handle. BJP state vice-president Narayanan Thirupathy said, 'Removal of Senthil Balaji & Ponmudi from Tamil Nadu ministry is expected though late.' 'It is not a shame on them but on chief minister MK Stalin for his misrule, corrupt government, maladministration & mismanagement,' he said in a social media update.
