Fri Sep 27 15:08:12 UTC 2024: ## DMK Leader Senthil Balaji Released on Bail, Speculation Mounts Over Cabinet Return

**Chennai:** DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to senior party leader V. Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case. Cadres in the western part of the state celebrated the order by distributing sweets and bursting crackers.

Balaji, who was arrested in June 2023 for alleged involvement in a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as Transport Minister under the AIADMK government (2011-2016), was released after spending 15 months in jail. His release has sparked intense speculation about his potential re-induction into the state cabinet.

Sources within the DMK suggest that a cabinet reshuffle was delayed due to Balaji’s imprisonment. Now that he is out on bail, Chief Minister Stalin is expected to make a decision on his reinstatement soon.

Chief Minister Stalin, in a social media post, expressed his support for Balaji, describing him as a victim of political persecution by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He claimed that the ED has been weaponized by the BJP to target its political opponents.

DMK allies have also expressed relief at Balaji’s release, criticizing the ED and BJP for keeping him in detention for 15 months without sufficient grounds.

Balaji’s arrest had been a major political issue, leading to a brief public spat between the DMK government and the Governor, R.N. Ravi.

Balaji, who joined the DMK from the AIADMK in 2018, played a crucial role in reviving the party’s fortunes in western Tamil Nadu during the 2022 civic elections. His return to the cabinet is expected to strengthen the DMK’s position in the region.

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