The tussle between the government, led by M.K. Stalin, and Governor R.N. Ravi intensified after the latter rejected the Chief Minister’s recommendation to reallocate the portfolios of V. Senthilbalaji to Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Housing Minister S. Muthusamy.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, the Governor said the reason cited for reallocation of the portfolios was “misleading and incorrect”. Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy, who briefed mediapersons about the latest developments, said that had the Governor been aware of the provisions of the Constitution, he would have given approval to the Chief Minister’s recommendation.
He said that immediately after receiving the letter from Mr. Ravi, the Chief Minister wrote him another letter, saying the allocation of portfolios was the prerogative of a Chief Minister and the Governor turning down the recommendation went against the Constitution and the principle of State autonomy.