Tamil Nadu ministers Senthil Balaji, K Ponmudy quit MK Stalin's Cabinet

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu ministers Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy quit the chief minister MK Stalin-led Cabinet on Sunday, reported news agency PTI, citing Raj Bhavan. Governor RN Ravi has accepted the resignation of both the leaders.
SS Sivasankar has been additionally assigned the Electricity portfolio. S Muthusamy will also handle Prohibition and Excise. RS Rajakannappan will now oversee Forests and Khadi and has been appointed as the minister for forests and khadi.
Additionally, the CM Stalin has recommended the induction of T Mano Thangaraj, MLA from Padmanabhapuram assembly Constituency, into the Cabinet.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new minister designate is scheduled for Monday, April 28 at Raj Bhavan, Chennai.
The resignation of the two ministers comes as both the DMK leaders face legal challenges, with the Supreme Court on Thursday agreeing to hear a plea in the cash-for-jobs scam, in which Senthil Balaji is one of the main accused.
The plea has challenged the clubbing of four separate chargesheets - pertaining to corrupt practices in the appointments of assistant engineers, junior tradesmen, conductors and drivers - with an existing case related to the appointment of junior engineers.
On Wednesday, the Madras high court noted that the remarks made by K Ponmudy against Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and women were prima facie hate speech and decided to initiate suo motu proceedings against him in that regard.
"Prima facie, it was evident that his remarks demean the moral worth of sex workers, particularly women, and were calculated to subvert harmony and peace among religious groups and various sects," the judge said.
The comments, on the face of it, were completely derogatory towards women and deliberately spewed venom and hatred on the two main sects of Hinduism, the judge added. The judge directed the initiation of proceedings as the Tamil Nadu police failed to register an FIR against the minister, as suggested by the high court last week.
According to the court, as per the Supreme Court order, police are mandated to register a case against such hate speech even in the absence of a formal complaint.