Stalin reshuffles Tamil Nadu cabinet after Senthil Balaji and Ponmudi's resignations

While Senthil Balaji was in charge of Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Departments, Ponmudy was handling Forests and Khadi ministries.

S S Sivasankar, the present Transport Minister, has been given the charge of Electricity.

S Muthusamy, who was the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has been given the additional charge of Prohibition and Excise.

R S Rajakannappan, who was the Milk and Dairy Development department, has been handed over the charge of Forests and Khadi ministries.

Meanwhile, Stalin has inducted Padmanabhapuram MLA, T Mano Thangaraj, into the state cabinet.

The new ministers will take oath at Raj Bhavan at 6 pm on Monday.

Balaji and Ponmudy's resignations, which were promptly accepted by Governor R N Ravi, came with a year left for the next assembly elections.

Balaji's resignation came in the backdrop of the Supreme Court's warning over assuming the erstwhile ministry soon after getting a bail in a money laundering case.

In December 2024, the Supreme Court had questioned the reinstatement of Balaji as the Tamil Nadu minister shortly after he was granted bail in a money laundering case.

The top court said the reinstatement will give an impression that witnesses against Balaji will be under pressure.

Ponmudy's resignation came after he made controversial remarks on women and Hinduism.

He recently faced backlash for remarks he made at a public event where he compared Hindu Shaivite and Vaishnavite symbols to sexual positions.

The Madras High Court also ordered the registration of a case against him, stating that his remarks amounted to hate speech and insulted religious sentiments.