Now that bail is granted, will Senthil Balaji make a return to Tamil Nadu Cabinet

Chennai: Now that former Tamil Nadu Minister V.Senthilbalaji was granted bail by the Supreme Court with some conditions in the money laundering case filed by the ED in the cash for jobs scam and is all set to walk out of prison later in the day, the next question that has been doing the rounds is that whether will he be re-inducted into the Cabinet.

The Supreme Court, while granting bail to Mr Senthilbalaji, who was lodged in prison for 471 days, imposed certain conditions.

He should provide two sureties for Rs 25 lakh, appear before the ED twice a week (Monday and Friday), not to travel abroad and surrender his passport, not to tamper with the witnesses and cooperate with the Investigation.

Since the Court has not made any mention on his re-induction into the Cabinet while granting bail, rumours are rife that the former Minister would return to the Council of Ministers.

Describing him as his beloved brother, Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin welcomed him saying the Apex Court has granted bail to Mr Senthilbalaji after 471 days.

Mr Stalin said even during Emergency no one was lodged in jail for so many days.

"Political conspiracies continued for 15 months...By arresting him and keeping him in jail, they wanted to break the resolve of brother Senthil Balaji", Mr Stalin said.

"I welcome Brother Senthil Balaji, who will come out of prison with renewed vigour", he said.

"Your sacrifice is great! your will power is even greater than that!", he added.

Reports quoting DMK said though Mr Stalin will take a final call on re-inducting Mr Senthilbalaji into the Cabinet, the former Minister in all likelihood would be made Minister again.

An announcement on rejig of the State Cabinet is likely in the coming days in which Mr Senthilbalaji is likely to be re-inducted and Sports Minister and DMK Youth Wing Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is the son of Mr Stalin, all set to be elevated as the Deputy Chief Minister, as favoured by several Ministers and DMK leaders.

Mr Stalin had already hinted that there would be a change in the State Cabinet and had also reiterated it after having earlier said that "strengthened but not ripened", on his son's elevation as Deputy CM.

When asked about his earlier remarks on Cabinet rejig and Udhayanidhi's elevation, Mr Stalin, two days back, also dropped broad hints saying “there will be a change and no disappointment.

Earlier, reports said the DMK is confident of Mr Senthilbalaji getting bail from the Apex Court and was waiting for that moment to effect reshuffle in the Cabinet paving way for his re-induction and elevation of Mr Udhayanidhi.

And now these reports have gained more credence after he was granted bail.