In a gripping turn of events, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and a delegation of 15 ministers hurriedly convened at a Chennai hospital to meet V Senthil Balaji, a prominent minister who had been admitted following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of money laundering. The swift response from the chief minister and his team underscores Balaji’s enduring influence, even five years after his return to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, having previously defected to their arch-rivals, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Political Turmoil Erupts: Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji Arrested by Enforcement Directorate, Prompting Chief Minister’s Hospital Visit
A DMK insider, preferring to remain anonymous, disclosed that Balaji’s significance lies in his sway over western Tamil Nadu, particularly in his home district of Karur, which is regarded as an AIADMK stronghold. Described as a diligent minister and dedicated party member, Balaji’s reintegration into the DMK fold aimed to fortify the party’s presence in the western region. The source suggested that Balaji is now being targeted due to the DMK’s resounding victory in the Coimbatore and Karur areas during the 2021 elections, a campaign that Balaji spearheaded. The insider alleged that the AIADMK, in collaboration with its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), seeks to weaken Balaji’s influence to reclaim their dominance in the region.
The allegations against Balaji stem from his tenure as the transport minister between 2011 and 2015, a period when the AIADMK held power. It is alleged that substantial sums were extorted from candidates in exchange for promised employment opportunities that were never fulfilled, with many individuals reportedly paying bribes. V Senthil Balaji has long been a loyalist of the AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
During Jayalalithaa’s 2014 corruption conviction and subsequent resignation, Balaji gained attention for his steadfast support, refusing to shave his beard as a symbol of solidarity. Notably, when Jayalalithaa’s appeal against the conviction was pending in 2015, Balaji orchestrated a grand spectacle, lighting over one lakh terracotta lamps at a temple and even going so far as to shave his head and carry a fire-pot on his head upon her eventual acquittal. However, in a stunning turn of events, Jayalalithaa dismissed Balaji from his ministerial position and as the party’s Karur district secretary a few months later.
Following over 19 hours of questioning, Balaji was hospitalized and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a state government-run hospital in Chennai, where doctors have recommended immediate bypass surgery. The Enforcement Directorate’s arrest of Balaji came shortly after Chief Minister Stalin lambasted the BJP for employing “backdoor tactics,” a veiled reference to allegations that the BJP utilizes investigative agencies, such as the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation, to harass political opponents.
On Tuesday, the ED conducted raids at various locations associated with Balaji, including his residences in Chennai, Karur, and Erode, as part of their ongoing investigations. His home in Chennai and his office at the state secretariat were among the premises subjected to searches. In response, Balaji’s ministerial colleague, PK Sekar Babu, accused the ED of resorting to torture tactics.
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Amidst these developments, DMK leader RS Bharathi questioned whether the ED’s actions were a direct consequence of a 15-minute power outage at the Chennai airport during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit
to the state on June 10. Bharathi implied a potential correlation between the raids and Shah’s visit, suggesting an ulterior motive behind the ED’s actions. He further characterized the raids as a diversionary tactic employed by the BJP, particularly as their ally, the AIADMK, had been threatening to sever ties.
The unfolding situation continues to generate political turmoil in Tamil Nadu, as V Senthil Balaji’s arrest and subsequent hospitalization amplify tensions between rival parties. The coming days are likely to witness intense speculation, as the state’s political landscape navigates these tumultuous waters.