Senthil Balaji, who quit as TN minister, likely to get new role in Kongu region

V Senthil Balaji, Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise, resigned on Sunday (April 27). After his exit from the Cabinet, according to party sources, the DMK high command is likely to appoint him as the party in charge for Western Tamil Nadu (Kongu belt), a region where the AIADMK and BJP have historically been dominant.

This move aims to leverage Senthil Balaji’s proven electoral influence in the region as the DMK prepares for the 2026 Assembly elections.

Why DMK needs him

Senthil Balaji’s political utility to the DMK in the Kongu region – covering districts like Coimbatore, Karur, and Erode – remains undeniable. Since joining the DMK in 2018, he has been a key figure in eroding the AIADMK-BJP stronghold.

In the 2022 Coimbatore local body elections, the DMK alliance, under Senthil Balaji’s leadership, secured 96 of 100 wards, a stark improvement from its 2021 Assembly election performance. Even while in jail from June 2023 to September 2024, he influenced the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, advising the DMK to contest Coimbatore, leading to a victory over BJP’s K Annamalai by 1.14 lakh votes.

Also read: Senthil Balaji, Ponmudy quit as TN ministers amid legal, political pressure

The Kongu area’s political landscape has been challenging for the DMK, with the AIADMK-BJP alliance winning 33 of 50 seats in 2021. Senthil Balaji, a Gounder by caste, has been instrumental in appealing to this influential community, traditionally aligned with the AIADMK.

His reappointment as Coimbatore in-charge after his bail release in September 2024 signalled Chief Minister MK Stalin’s intent to retain his regional clout.

Sources indicate that despite his Cabinet exit, the DMK is poised to formally name him Western Tamil Nadu in-charge, a role he previously held in Karur in 2019, to maintain momentum in the region. This decision aligns with the party’s broader strategy to counter Opposition narratives of corruption while ensuring electoral gains.

Multiple party switches

From a panchayat councillor at 21 to Transport Minister under J Jayalalithaa, Senthil Balaji navigated multiple party switches –MDMK, DMK, AIADMK, AMMK, and back to DMK – each time securing electoral success. His 2019 Aravakurichi bypoll win and 2021 Karur victory solidified his value to the DMK. However, his legal troubles, including a 471-day incarceration and ongoing trial, pose risks.

The Supreme Court’s December 2024 concerns about witness pressure post-reinstatement highlight the ethical tightrope the DMK walks by relying on Senthil Balaji. Critics, including the BJP and AIADMK, argue that his continued prominence undermines the party’s anti-corruption stance, especially as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided Senthil Balaji-linked properties as recently as March.

Also read: 3 DMK ministers face judicial heat over corruption, misconduct, hate speech

With the 2026 elections looming, the DMK aims to consolidate its gains in the Kongu region, where Senthil Balaji’s organisational skills and community ties give it a fighting chance against the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Yet, this move may fuel Opposition attacks, testing the DMK’s narrative of political vendetta by the Central government. As the party navigates this delicate balance, Senthil Balaji’s role will likely remain big – but contentious – in shaping its future in Western Tamil Nadu.

Cash-for-jobs scam comes back

The cash-for-jobs scam that has followed Senthil Balaji since his days as Transport Minister under the AIADMK government from 2011 to 2015 has once again exacted a heavy toll on his political career.

On Sunday, he quit the Tamil Nadu Cabinet and Governor RN Ravi accepted his resignation, following a Supreme Court ultimatum that forced him to choose between his ministerial post and his bail in a related money laundering case.

The cash-for-jobs scam originated during Senthil Balaji’s tenure as Transport Minister, when he allegedly orchestrated a scheme to collect bribes from job aspirants in exchange for positions in the Tamil Nadu Transport Department, including roles like drivers, conductors, and junior engineers. The ED later alleged that Senthil Balaji, along with associates like his brother RV Ashok Kumar, and personal assistant B Shanmugam, engineered a systematic racket, collecting illegal gratification and managing appointments fraudulently.

Also read: Tasmac 'scandal': TN minister Senthil Balaji denies allegations, says will fight legally

A 2018 complaint by a Metro Transport Corporation technical staff member, who paid Rs 40 lakh but was denied a promised job, triggered the investigation. The ED filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in July 2021, claiming unaccounted cash deposits of Rs 1.34 crore in Balaji’s and his wife’s accounts, directly linked to the scam.

Senthil Balaji’s arrest by the ED on June 14, 2023, marked the first major blow, following raids across Chennai and Karur. After 471 days in jail, he was granted bail by the Supreme Court on September 26, 2024, due to trial delays involving over 2,000 accused and 550 witnesses. Reinstated as a minister on September 29, 2024, Balaji’s return was short-lived.

The Supreme Court, on April 9, 2025, warned him to resign or face bail cancellation, citing concerns over witness intimidation due to his position. The court noted that Balaji had cited his resignation as a “change in circumstances” for bail, only to be sworn in again post-release – a move it deemed unacceptable given prior findings of his role in the predicate offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.