CHENNAI: In a surprise move, Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Monday dropped Transport Minister V Senthil Balaji from the State Cabinet. A communication from the Raj Bhavan said Governor K Rosaiah, accepted the recommendation and relieved Balaji from the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, a release from the AIADMK headquarters here said Senthil Balaji has also been relieved as party’s Karur district secretary. The portfolios looked after by him - Transport, Nationalised Transport and Motor Vehicles Act have been allocated to Industries Minister P Thangamani. He would also hold additional charge as the party’s Karur district secretary.
Senthil Balaji has been a confidante of Jayalalithaa for a long time and his removal from the Cabinet as well party post came as a surprise to the cadre. In the past, senior Ministers KA Sengottaiyan and KP Munusamy, SS Krishnamurthi and Madhavaram V Murthi faced similar action. They have lost their party post and dropped from the Cabinet also.