The tussle between Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and Chief Minister MK Stalin has marked a new chapter after the former has rejected the latter's cabinet rejig in what has become an apparent loggerhead amidst a political slugfest in Tamil Nadu between DMK and BJP over the arrest of the state minister V Senthil Balaji in connection to the money laundering case. 

As Senthil Balaji, who had been serving as the Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, Prohibition & Excise, has been arrested and sent to judicial custody in the case that has been probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), MK Stalin has on Thursday - June 15 sent a recommendation to Governor RN Ravi, allocating the portfolios held by Senthil Balaji to some other ministers. 

In his letter to the Governor, MK Stalin highlighted that the Electricity portfolio will be taken care by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu while the Housing Minister Muthusamy will be awarded the portfolio of Prohibtion & Excise. As the Governor has to consent the cabinet rejig from the Chief Minister, the protocol was skewed in Tamil Nadu after Governor RN Ravi refused to approve MK Stalin's cabinet reshuffle in the wake of Senthil Balaji's arrest. 

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Governor RN Ravi said the reason for the reallocation of the portfolios was 'misleading and incorrect'. Shocked by his letter, MK Stalin immediately sent another letter, pressing that the allocation of portfolios in the cabinet was the prerogative of a Chief Minister. Speaking about the developments that sparked a new tussle between the Governor and Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Ponmudi came down heavily on the Governor. 

Addressing the reporters, Ponmudi said that Governor RN Ravi would have given approval to the Chief Minister's recommendation if he is aware of the provisions in the Constitution. Ponmudi further said that immediately after receiving the letter from the Governor, the Chief Minister wrote him another letter, saying the allocation of portfolios was the prerogative of a Chief Minister and the Governor's rejection of the recommendation has gone against the Constitution and the principle of state's autonomy. 

Ponmudi further revealed that the Governor had demanded that Senthil Balaji must be removed from the cabinet and replying to his demand, the Chief Minister stressed that the demand was against the Constitution as the Chief Minister is the only person who has the right to make recommendations for appointment and removal of Ministers. 

Ponmudi said that in his reply to the Governor, the Chief Minister highlighted that Amit Shah continued to serve as the Gujarat Home Minister despite of having more cases. Ponmudi pointed out that the Governor had to act on the Chief Minister's recommendation on the appointment of Ministers and portfolio allocation and that the Governor couldn't question the Chief Minister's decision to reshuffle the cabinet portfolios. 

"When it is clear that facing an inquiry will not affect a Minister's continuation in the cabinet, it is unnecessary on the part of the Governor to raise the issue", Ponmudi added. Our sources say that as the Governor hasn't approved MK Stalin's recommendation to change the portfolios, the Chief Minister will most likely surpass the Governor and pass a gazette to give life to his cabinet rejig. On the other hand, the arrested minister Senthil Balaji is currently hospitalized in Chennai due to chest ailment and he would undergo a bypass surgery. He will be serving as the Minister without portfolio.