Chennai: As Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi’s late evening flip-flop fuelled a debate over the Raj Bhavan’s powers, the BJP sought to take the excessive ethical floor within the row over DMK minister Senthil Balaji’s dismissal by highlighting Chief Minister M.Okay. Stalin’s “doublespeak” on corruption.
BJP state chief Okay. Annamalai put up a tweet Friday stating that the celebration “reserves” its feedback on the dismissal of Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers by Ravi.
However, Annamalai additionally took the chance to focus on that Stalin had himself sought the scalp of Senthil Balaji over corruption fees 5 years in the past when he was the opposition chief.
BJP Tamil Nadu, for now, reserves its feedback on the dismissal of Money for Job Rip-off Thiru Senthil Balaji from the council of ministers by the Hon Governor of TN.
Nevertheless, we need to remind TN CM Thiru @mkstalin of his doublespeak.
In 2018, the then-opposition chief demanded… pic.twitter.com/AfJ3GF6QY3
— Okay.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 30, 2023
Whereas the Raj Bhavan launched an announcement Thursday evening saying Senthil Balaji’s arrest by the ED in an alleged cash-for-jobs rip-off was the explanation for his dismissal, the Governor later issued a letter placing his order in abeyance.
“I’ve been suggested by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Dwelling Affairs (Amit Shah) that it will be prudent to hunt the opinion of the Legal professional Basic additionally. Accordingly, I’m approaching the Legal professional Basic for his opinion. In the meantime, the order of dismissal of the minister Thiru V. Senthil Balaji could also be saved in abeyance till additional communication from me,” Ravi wrote in a second letter to CM M.Okay. Stalin.
ThePrint has a replica of the letter.
Although the BJP management in Tamil Nadu has at all times rooted for the Governor who has been at loggerheads with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) authorities, the newest step taken by Ravi has seemingly precipitated embarrassment for the dispensation in Delhi.
“The Governor was given a late evening pep speak by the Dwelling Minister and was suggested to hunt the Legal professional Basic’s opinion on the problem,” a senior BJP chief in Delhi advised ThePrint.
“The Governor is the custodian of the Structure, however typically they overlook the rule ebook, and go along with emotion. The Governor’s untimely motion has given the opposition an opportunity to hit out on the Centre.”
In Tamil Nadu, the DMK known as the Governor’s motion in addition to the strain mounted on the ruling celebration within the state because the “BJP’s modus operandi” towards the opposition-ruled states.
“These are steps to threaten political events and to make it tough for the federal government, which is from an opposition (celebration). It (BJP) is hoping to search out some small political house by means of this course of. They’ve at all times completed this to all these opposition events that don’t fall according to what they are saying, and we’re ideologically against them,” DMK deputy normal secretary and Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi advised ThePrint.
“I feel it’s unusual that the Governor will go to this extent and behave like an additional constitutional authority with out the blessings of the Union authorities. Possibly that is the primary time they’ve distanced themselves. In any other case, the BJP has at all times supported what the Governor has been doing and all that the Governors have been doing in all opposition states,” she mentioned.
If the Governor has acted on his personal accord with out the approval, Kanimozhi mentioned, the BJP then ought to come out and condemn it brazenly. “Silence isn’t a solution,” she asserted.
Political analyst A.S. Panneerselvan, too, mentioned the Governor couldn’t have gone forward with out the blessing of the Union Authorities. “If the Governor has taken the choice with out consulting anyone, why no punitive motion towards the federal government? That’s a key query. Isn’t it? The thought of shifting every thing on to the Governor; I feel it’s a straightforward manner for the Union authorities to insulate itself,” mentioned Panneerselvan, a fellow at Chennai’s Roja Muthiah Analysis Library.
In Delhi, a BJP normal secretary mentioned the celebration has determined to pursue the narrative of corruption towards the DMK authorities to make headway in Tamil Nadu.
“The BJP earlier didn’t get traction in Tamil media for our narrative, however the steady tour of our ministers, (and) Annamalai’s aggressive campaigning has modified our celebration dynamics within the state. For any election, three issues are required — we now have a story of corruption, leaders and sources with alliance companions…we will win greater than 20 seats,” the senior chief mentioned.
The bigger technique of the BJP to make inroads into the state isn’t just by means of its drive towards corruption, but in addition drawing on Tamil tradition and dynasty politics, the senior functionary added.
“The Sengol ceremony within the new Parliament, the Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam, the Saurashtra Tamil sangamam and the fixed reference of Tamil writing by the Prime Minister are all a part of breaking the animosity in direction of the BJP in Tamil Nadu,” the BJP normal secretary defined.
With inputs from Shanker Arnimesh
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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