Balaji, Ponmudy Resign as TN Ministers

While former quit following SC directive, latter resigned after his recent controversial remarks

- T MURUGANANDHAM @Chennai

Tamil Nadu Ministers V Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy resigned from the Cabinet on Sunday, and their portfolios have been re-allocated among Ministers S S Sivasankar, S Muthusamy, and RS Rajakannappan.

Balaji's resignation follows a directive from the Supreme Court to decide between ministership or freedom in a cash-for-jobs case. Ponmudy's departure from the Cabinet is a fallout of his recent controversial remarks, which are believed to have caused the party embarrassment and had already cost him his party post of deputy general secretary.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi accepted the recommendations made by Chief Minister M K Stalin to accept the resignations of the two ministers as well as to re-allocate their portfolios to the three other ministers.