Senthil Balaji to undergo surgery on June 21, says TN health minister

Chennai, June 20 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian has said that the arrested state minister, Senthil Balaji will undergo a surgery on June 21, Wednesday.

It may be noted that Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 in a job for cash scam and is remanded in judicial custody. However after he complained of chest pain and uneasiness, doctors conducted a medical examination on him. A coronary angiogram was conducted on the minister and found that he had three blocks in the coronary artery.

Ma Subramanian told reporters here on Tuesday that as the doctors have recommended immediate surgery, the procedure will be conducted on tomorrow itself.

It may be noted that Senthil Balaji who was the Tamil Nadu minister for Excise, Prohibition and Electricity was divested of his portfolios and is presently a minister without portfolio.

The minister was first admitted in a government hospital after his arrest and then shifted to a private hospital in Chennai. The Enforcement Directorate has already moved the Supreme Court against the shifting of the minister.

It may be noted that the job for the cash scam in which Balaji is arraigned took place in the period between 2011- 16 when he was a minister in the AIADMK government of late J. Jayalalithaa. However later he switched political positions and joined the DMK becoming a trusted lieutenant of the Chief Minister, MK Stalin. He is also considered a strong man in Karur area of Western Tamil Nadu who has deep following at the grass root levels.