T. R. Baalu: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{short description|Indian politician (born 1941)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Tamil name|Thalikkottai Rajuthevar|Baalu}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = T. R. Baalu
| image              = T R Baalu at his Book Release 2024.jpg
| native_name        = டி.ஆர். பாலு
| caption            = Baalu at the launch of his book compiling his parliamentary speeches "''My Voice for the Voiceless!''" in 2024
| image              = The Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri T. R. Baalu addressing at a Conference of the Ministers in charge of National Highways of all the StatesUTs, in New Delhi on June 24, 2008.jpg
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1941|12|13}}<br>(15 June 1941 as per official records)
| caption            = Baalu addressing State Ministers of Road and Highways(India) at a conference in 2008.
| birth_place        = [[Tanjore District (Madras Presidency)|Thalikottai]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj]]<br>(present-day [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1941|6|15}}
| residence          = {{ubl|[[New Delhi|10, Raisina Road, New Delhi]]|29, Raman Street, [[Thyagaraya Nagar|T Nagar]], [[Chennai]]}}
| birth_place        = [[Thiruvarur district|Thalikottai]], [[Tanjore District (Madras Presidency)|Tanjore district]] [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj]] (now [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| residence          = [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu, India
| death_date          =  
| death_date          =  
| death_place        =  
| death_place        =  
| office1            = [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways|Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping]]
| office1            = [[Minister of Road Transport and Highways|Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping]]
| primeminister1      = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| primeminister1      = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| term1              = 2004–2009
| term1              = 22 May 2004 — 23 May 2009
| constituency1      = [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]]
| constituency1      = [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South, Tamil Nadu]]
| office2            = [[Minister of Environment and Forests]]
| office2            = [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Union Minister of Environment and Forests]]
| primeminister2      = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| primeminister2      = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| term2              = 1999–2003
| term2              = 13 October 1999 — 21 December 2003
| constituency2      = [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]]
| constituency2      = [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South, Tamil Nadu]]
| office3            = [[Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas|Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Non-Conventional Energy Sources]]
| office3            = [[Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas|Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Non-Conventional Energy Sources]]
| term3              = 1996–1998
| term3              = 6 July 1996 — 19 March 1998
| primeminister3      = [[H.D. Deve Gowda]]<br />[[I.K. Gujral]]
| primeminister3      = {{bulletedlist|[[H. D. Deve Gowda]]|[[Inder Kumar Gujral]]}}
| office4            = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| office4             = [[Leader]] of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] in [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start4         = 23 May 2019
| term_start4        = 24 May 2019
| term_end4           =  
| office5             = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| predecessor4       = [[K.N. Ramachandran]]
| term_start5         = 23 May 2019
| successor4         =  
| term_end5           =  
| term5               = 2009–2014
| predecessor5       = K. N. Ramachandran
| predecessor5       = [[A. Krishnaswamy]]
| successor5         =  
| successor5         = [[K.N. Ramachandran]]
| term6               = 16 May 2009 — 16 May 2014
| constituency5       = [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]
| predecessor6       = A. Krishnaswamy
| term_start6         = 1996
| successor6         = K. N. Ramachandran
| term_end6           = 2009
| constituency6       = [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu]]
| predecessor6       = R. Sridharan
| term_start7         = 10 May 1996
| successor6         = [[C. Rajendran]]
| term_end7           = 16 May 2009
| constituency6       = [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]]
| predecessor7       = R. Sridharan
| office7             = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| successor7         = C. Rajendran
| term7               = 1986–1992
| constituency7       = [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South, Tamil Nadu]]
| constituency7       = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| office8             = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| party              = [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
| term8               = 30 June 1986 — 29 June 1992
| religion            =
| constituency8       = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Renuka Devi Baalu|10 September 1970}}<br /> {{marriage|T. R. B. Porkodi|19 Oct 1970}}
| party              = [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
| children            = 5, including [[T. R. B. Rajaa|Dr. T R B Rajaa]]<ref name="about"/>
| spouse              = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Renuka Devi Baalu|September 10, 1970|August 19, 2025|end=died}}|{{marriage|Porkkodi TRB|October 19, 1970}}}}
| website            = {{official|www.trbaalu.in}}
| children            = 5 (including [[T. R. B. Rajaa]])<ref name="about"/>
| website            = {{official website|www.trbaalu.in}}
| footnotes          =  
| footnotes          =  
| date                =  
| date                =  
| year                =  
| year                =  
| source              = http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=26
| source              = https://loksabha.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=26&lastls=17
| office              = [[Treasurer]] of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
| office              = [[Treasurer]] of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
| constituency4       = [[Sriperumbudur]]
| constituency5       = [[Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha constituency|Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu]]
| term 8              = 2009-2014
2019- [[Incumbent]]
| order              =  
| order              =  
| office 9            = [[Treasurer(title)|Treasurer]] of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
| termstart          = 9 September 2020
| termstart          = 9 September 2020
| president          = [[M. K. Stalin]]
| 1blankname          = General Secretary
| 1namedata          = [[Durai Murugan]]
| office9            = [[Secretary|Principal Secretary]] of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
| term9              = August 2018 {{endash}} January 2020
| president9          = [[M. K. Stalin]]
| birth_name          = T R Balasubramaniam (Ilamurugu Rasuthevar)
}}
}}
'''Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu''', better known as '''T. R. Baalu''' (called as Baalu), is an Indian [[Tamil people|Tamil]] politician. He is the father of [[Mannargudi (state assembly constituency)|Mannargudi MLA]] [[T R B Rajaa|Dr. T R B Rajaa]]. Baalu did his B.Sc. from [[New College, Chennai]] in [[Madras University]] and diploma in drafting engineering drawings from Central polytechnic Chennai. He is currently the [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|MP of Lok Sabha]]  of the [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur constituency]], elected five times since 1996 from [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]] and [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]. He is an important leader of the DMK party and is known for political loyalty having been in the party since 1957. He now serves as the [[Treasurer]] of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]], elected unopposed on 3 September 2020. He earlier served as the Principal Secretary of the DMK Party from August 2018 to January 2020.
'''Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu''' (born 13 December 1941) is an Indian politician. He is currently the [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|MP of Lok Sabha]]  of the [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur constituency]], elected seven times since 1996 from [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]] and [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]. He is a leader of the DMK party and is known for his political loyalty, having been in the party since 1957. He is now the [[Treasurer]] of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]], elected unopposed on 3 September 2020. He earlier served as the Principal Secretary of the DMK Party from August 2018 to January 2020.


In his political career Baalu went to jail over 20 times for participating in demonstrations and agitations for public cause. He came to political limelight when he was jailed for one year under [[Maintenance of Internal Security Act]] of 1976 for protesting against Emergency clamped in the country. Baalu was first elected to Parliament as a member of [[Rajya Sabha]] in 1986. He was elected to Lok Sabha in 1996, 1998 and 2004 from Chennai South constituency and from Sriperumbudur constituency in 2009 and 2019. He was Minister of State in the Ministry Petroleum and Natural Gas, also held additional charge of the then Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources and Cabinet Minister of Environment and Forests from 1999 to December 2003 and as Minister of Shipping and Road Transport and Highways from 2004 to 2009. Baalu is the Leader of DMK Parliamentary Party and the Treasurer of the party and is the only DMK member in the 30 member Joint Parliamentary Committee that probes the [[2G spectrum case]], where three members from DMK, namely [[A. Raja]], [[Dayanidhi Maran]] and [[Kanimozhi]] are accused. Baalu is one of the prominent leaders to work towards the implementation of [[Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project]] while he was the minister of Shipping.
== Political career ==
Thalikottai Raju Baalu is a prominent leader in the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) Party. Baalu was born on 13 December 1941 (his official DOB remains as 15 June due to confusion at the time of his birth) to Rajuthevar and Vadivambal at Thalikottai in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. He studied  B.Sc. in [[New College, Chennai|New College]] ([[Madras University]]) and his diploma in drafting engineering drawings from the Central Polytechnic College, Chennai. Baalu's political career started at a very early age of sixteen when he joined the DMK party after being amused at a speech given by the late DMK Supremo [[M. Karunanidhi|Kalaignar]] in 1957. He was active in grass-root politics and made friends with his then neighbouring ward's youth wing personnel [[M. K. Stalin|Stalin]], who did not act like a big shot even though he was the son of the then [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|Party]] President and [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister]] Dr. [[M. Karunanidhi|Kalaignar Mu. Karunanidhi]]. Baalu later became the Party's Secretary for the bastion [[Chennai district|Chennai unit]] (Unsplit) in 1982.<ref name="about"/><ref name="RC">[[#R.C.|RC]], p. 465</ref>


Baalu was centre of a controversy involving illicit allocation of gas to his family owned King Chemicals and King Hi Power in 2004. In 2010, there were widespread protests by the local farmers against the Baalu's family owned industrial alcohol distillery in Vadaseri, a village in [[Thanjavur district]] against the establishment of it would reduce the ground water supply in the region. Internal rivalry in the DMK party emerged between Baalu and [[S.S. Palanimanickam]], the MP from Thanjavur constituency and the district secretary of the DMK in Thanjavur, in 2012, when Baalu initiated a survey for railway lines in Thanjavur district.
Baalu was first elected to Parliament as a member of [[Rajya Sabha]] in 1986, marking the first electoral defeat of AIADMK since [[MGR]] came to power.


== Career and personal life ==
He then became a member of the Lok Sabha in 1996 from [[Chennai South Lok Sabha constituency|Chennai South]]  and became a Deputy Minister  in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas under [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Devegowda]]. Towards the end of his tenure, he also held additional charge of the then Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (now called the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy). Baalu was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998, 1999 and 2004 from the same constituency and again in 2009, 2019 and 2024 from the [[Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha constituency|Thiruperumbudur]] constituency, losing power once in 2014 contesting from [[Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency|Thanjavur]]. Baalu served as Cabinet Minister of Environment and Forests from 1999 to December 2003 and as Minister of Shipping and Road Transport and Highways from 2004 to 2009 in the union cabinet.<ref name="about" />
Thalikottai Raju Baalu is an important leader of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) Party. Baalu was born on 15 June 1941 to Rajuthevar and Vadivambal at Thalikottai in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. He belongs to Agamudayar. He obtained his Diploma in Engineering from Central Polytechnic in Chennai and graduated from [[The New College, Chennai|New College]], Chennai. Baalu's political career started at a very early age of sixteen when he joined the DMK party. He became Secretary of Chennai City District (Unsplit) unit of DMK in 1982.<ref name="about"/><ref name="RC">[[#R.C.|RC]], p. 465</ref>


Baalu was first elected to Parliament as a member of [[Rajya Sabha]] in 1986. He was elected to
T.R. Baalu is now the Leader of DMK Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha and He also held the charge as Chairman of the Department Related Standing Committee of Parliament of the Ministry of Railways. In addition, Baalu was a member of several parliamentary committees like Ethics Committee, House Committee and Consultative Committee of Ministry of Finance. He is also a Member of International World Affairs Council (IWAC).<ref name="about" />


Lok Sabha in 1996 from Chennai South constituency and became Minister of State in the Ministry Petroleum and Natural Gas. Towards the end of his tenure, he also held additional charge of the then Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (now called the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy). Baalu was re-elected to Lok Sabha in 1998, 1999 and 2004 from the same constituency and again in 2009 and 2019 from Sriperumbudur constituency. Baalu served as Cabinet Minister of Environment and Forests from 1999 to December 2003 and as Minister of Shipping and Road Transport and Highways from 2004 to 2009.<ref name="about" />
In his political career Baalu went to jail over 20 times for participating in demonstrations and agitations for public cause. He came to political limelight when he was jailed for one year under MISA along with DMK supremos [[M. K. Stalin|Stalin]], [[Murasoli Maran|Maran]] and Dravidar Kazhagam leader [[K. Veeramani]] in 1976 for protesting against Emergency clamped in the country. He protested strongly against the midnight arrest and imprisonment of his party leader [[Karunanidhi]] on 30 June 2001.<ref name="about"/> At that time, he was the union [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]]. And it was the first time, a Cabinet Minister to be arrested by a [[Tamil Nadu Police|State's Police Force]].{{citation needed|date= October 2022}}


T.R. Baalu was the Leader of DMK Parliamentary Party during the 15th Loksabha and 17th Lok Sabha and He also held the charge as Chairman of the Department Related Standing Committee of Parliament of the Ministry of Railways. In addition, Baalu was a member of several parliamentary committees like Ethics Committee, House Committee and Consultative Committee of Ministry of Finance. He is also a Member of International World Affairs Council (IWAC).<ref name="about" />
== Personal life ==
Baalu was married to his long-term love Renuka Devi (died 2025) and later to his niece Porkkodi, and has three sons and two daughters.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 June 2009 |title=The Wives & Wherefores |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/the-wives-wherefores-news-240630 |accessdate=10 November 2013 |work=The Outlook |location=New Delhi}}</ref> His second son [[T R B Rajaa]] (Renuka) is considered to be his political successor, having won 3 consecutive [[Tamil Nadu Assembly]] elections from their native constituency [[Mannargudi]] and now holds high offices both in the party (as [https://dmkitwing.in/ DMK IT Wing] Secretary) and the [[Tamil Nadu Government]] (as [[Department of Industries (Tamil Nadu)|Industries, IP and Commerce]] Minister), while his other 2 sons Selvakumaar (Ren.), Rajkumar (Por.) and the eldest daughter Devi Kanchana (Por.) take care of the businesses and institution, while the younger Manonmani (Por.) previously worked as a reporter-journalist in Tamil news channels.


In his political career Baalu went to jail over 20 times for participating in demonstrations and agitations for public cause. He came to political limelight when he was jailed for one year under MISA in 1976 for protesting against Emergency clamped in the country. He protested strongly against the midnight arrest and imprisonment of his party leader [[Karunanidhi]] on 30 June 2001.<ref name="about"/> At that time, he was the union [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]]. And it was the first time, a Cabinet Minister to be arrested by a [[Tamil Nadu Police|State’s Police Force]]
Baalu's first wife Renuka Devi died on the 19th of August 2025 due to age-related ailments at the age of 79 with her husband, 2 sons and their family by her side.
 
Baalu is married to Renuka Devi and Porkodi and he has three sons and two daughters.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Wives & Wherefores|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?240630|work=The Outlook|date=8 June 2009|location=New Delhi|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref> His first son, R.B. Raj Kumar, is the Chairman of Kings India Chemicals. His second son, [[T. R. B. Rajaa|Dr. T R B Rajaa]] is the incumbent MLA from Mannargudi Constituency elected from the [[2011 Tamil Nadu election|2011]], [[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016]] and [[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021]] [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] elections and the current/first Secretary of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|the party's]] NRI Wing. His third son, Selvakumar Baalu is the CEO of Twice group.<ref name="about" /><ref name="open">{{cite news|title=Palanimanickam's spat with Baalu comes out in open|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/palanimanickams-spat-with-baalu-comes-out-in-open/article4018356.ece|work=The Hindu|last=G.|first=Srirnivasan|location=Thanjavur|date=21 October 2012|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>


==Elections contested and positions held==
==Elections contested and positions held==
{|class="sortable wikitable"
===Lok Sabha===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! Year
! <small>Constituency</small>
! colspan="2"|Party
! Votes
! %
! Opponent
! colspan="2"|<small>Opponent Party</small>
! <small>Opponent Votes</small>
! %
! <small>Result</small>
! Margin
! %
|-
! [[2024 Indian general election|2024]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]
| {{Party name with color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|rowspan=9}}
| 758,611
| 52.63
| <small>G. Premkumar</small>
| {{Party name with color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
| 271,582
| 18.84
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 487,029
| 33.79
|-
! [[2019 Indian general election|2019]]
| 793,281
| 56.53
| <small>A. Vaithilingam</small>
| {{Party name with color|Pattali Makkal Katchi}}
| 285,326
| 20.33
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 507,955
| 36.2
|-
! [[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
| [[Thanjavur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Thanjavur]]
| 366,188
| 36.62
| <small>[[K. Parasuraman]]</small>
| {{Party name with color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
| 510,307
| 51.03
| {{no2|Lost}}
| -144,119
| -14.41
|-
! [[2009 Indian general election|2009]]
| [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]
| 352,641
| 44.44
| <small>[[A. K. Moorthy]]</small>
| {{Party name with color|Pattali Makkal Katchi}}
| 327,605
| 41.28
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 25,036
| 3.16
|-
! [[2004 Indian general election|2004]]
| rowspan="5"|[[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]]
| 564,578
| 60.41
| <small>Bader Sayeed</small>
| {{Party name with color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
| 343,838
| 36.79
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 220,740
| 23.62
|-
! [[1999 Indian general election|1999]]
| 562,221
| 60.03
| <small>[[V. Dhandayuthapani]]</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| 322,037
| 34.39
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 240,184
| 25.64
|-
! [[1998 Indian general election|1998]]
| 432,913
| 48.17
| <small>[[Jana Krishnamurthi]]</small>
| {{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
| 412,899
| 45.94
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 20,014
| 2.23
|-
! [[1996 Indian general election|1996]]
| 538,697
| 61.97
| <small>H. Ganesham</small>
| {{Party name with color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|rowspan=2}}
| 199,516
| 22.95
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 339,181
| 39.02
|-
! [[1991 Indian general election|1991]]
| 255,965
| 34.66
| <small>R. Sridharan</small>
| 418,493
| 56.66
| {{no2|Lost}}
| -162,528
| -22
|-
|-
!width=50|Year
!width=100|Constituency
!width=70|Result
!width=70|Vote percentage
!width=150|Opposition Candidate
!width=70|Opposition Party
!width=70|Opposition vote percentage
|- style="background:#cfc;"
|bgcolor=98FB98|[[1996 Indian general election|1996]]||[[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]] ||Won|| 61.97||H. Ganesham||[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]]||22.95<ref name="LS1996">{{cite web|title=Statistical report on General elections, 1996 to the 11th Lok Sabha|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1996/Vol_I_LS_96.pdf|page=387|year=1996|publisher=Election Commission of India|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ffc;"
|bgcolor=98FB98|[[1998 Indian general election|1998]]||[[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]] ||Won|| 48.17||Jana Krishnamurthy||[[Bharathiya Janata Party|BJP]]||45.94<ref name="LS1998">{{cite web|title=Statistical report on General elections, 1998 to the 12th Lok Sabha|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf|year=1998|page=234|publisher=Election Commission of India|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
|bgcolor=98FB98|[[1999 Indian general election|1999]]||[[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]] ||Won|| 60.03||V. Dhandayudapani||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]||34.39<ref name="LS1999">{{cite web|title=Statistical report on General elections, 1999 to the 13th Lok Sabha|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf|year=1999|page=225|publisher=Election Commission of India|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ffc;"
|bgcolor=98FB98|[[2004 Indian general election|2004]]||[[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]] ||Won|| 60.41||Sayeed Badar||[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]]||36.79<ref name="LS2004">{{cite web|title=Statistical report on General elections, 2004 to the 14th Lok Sabha|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf|year=2004|page=281|publisher=Election Commission of India|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
|bgcolor=98FB98|[[2009 Indian general election|2009]]||[[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]] ||Won|| 44.41||[[A.K. Moorthy]]||[[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]]||41.26<ref name="LS2009">{{cite web|title=Statistical report on General elections, 2009 to the 15th Lok Sabha|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/25_ConstituencyWiseDetailedResult.pdf|year=2009|page=124|publisher=Election Commission of India|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ffc;"
|bgcolor=FFA07A|[[2014 Indian general election|2014]]||[[Thanjavur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Thanjavur]] ||Lost|| 36.17||[[K. Parasuraman]]||[[AIADMK]]||50.41<ref name="LS2014">{{cite web|title=Statistical report on General elections, 2014 to the 16th Lok Sabha|url=http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS2230.htm?ac=30|year=2014|publisher=Election Commission of India|accessdate=31 May 2014}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
|bgcolor=98FB98|[[2019 Indian general election|2019]]||[[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]] ||Won||56.4||Vaithilingam.A||[[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]]||20.3
|}
|}


*  '''1986–1992''' : was elected as a Member, Rajya Sabha
*  '''1986–1992''' : was elected as a Member, Rajya Sabha. This is considered to be Former TN CM Dr.[[MGR]]'s first electoral defeat.
*  '''1996''': Elected to Lok Sabha (Eleventh) for the 1st time
*  '''1996''': Elected to Lok Sabha (Eleventh) for the 1st time
*  '''1996'''-'''1998''': [[Minister of State]], Petroleum, Natural Gas and Non-Conventional Energy Sources
*  '''1996'''-'''1998''': [[Minister of State]], Petroleum, Natural Gas and Non-Conventional Energy Sources
Line 112: Line 210:
*  '''2009''': Elected to Lok Sabha (Fifteenth) for the fifth time from [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]<ref name="about">{{cite web|title=Political Career|url=http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok13/biodata/13TN03.htm|publisher=National Informatics Centre|work=Parliament of India|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
*  '''2009''': Elected to Lok Sabha (Fifteenth) for the fifth time from [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]<ref name="about">{{cite web|title=Political Career|url=http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok13/biodata/13TN03.htm|publisher=National Informatics Centre|work=Parliament of India|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
*  '''2019''': Elected to Lok Sabha (Seventeenth) for the sixth time from [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]
*  '''2019''': Elected to Lok Sabha (Seventeenth) for the sixth time from [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]
*  '''2024''': Elected to Lok Sabha (Eighteenth) for the seventh time from [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]


==As a member of parliament and minister==
==As a member of parliament and minister==
[[File:Shri T. R. Baalu assumes the charge of Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi on May 26, 2004.jpg|thumb|T. R. Baalu assumes the charge of Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi on May 26, 2004]]
[[File:Shri T. R. Baalu assumes the charge of Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi on May 26, 2004.jpg|thumb|T. R. Baalu assumes the charge of Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi on 26 May 2004]]
Baalu is one of the prominent leaders to work towards the implementation of [[Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project]]. He was handling it during his tenure as the minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.<ref>[[#Gaur|Gaur]], p. 171</ref> The project proposes linking the [[Palk Bay]] and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal through the shallow sea sometimes called [[Setu Samudram]], and through the chain of islands variously known as [[Ram Sethu]] or the Adam's Bridge. A few organisations are opposing the dredging of Ramasethu on religious, environmental and economical grounds. Many of these parties and organisations support implementation of this project using one of the five alternative alignments considered earlier without damaging the structure considered sacred by Hindus.<ref>{{cite news|title= Alternative routes for Sethusamudram|url=http://www.nation.lk/2007/04/22/lankan.jpg|work=The Nation|date=22 April 2007|accessdate = 26 June 2012}}</ref> During 2006, the Supreme Court Baalu quashed a case requesting a ban on the project and issues notices to Baalu and the environment ministry.<ref>[[#Gaur|Gaur 2006]], p. 198</ref> With 22&nbsp;km of dredging remaining, the project is held from March 2010 by a [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] order seeking the [[Government of India|Central Government]] to clarify the status of the bridge as a national monument.<ref>{{cite news|work=IBN Live|title=Complete Sethusamudram project at earliest: DMK |date=30 March 2012|accessdate=7 August 2012|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/complete-sethusamudram-project-at-earliest-dmk/243974-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330223326/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/complete-sethusamudram-project-at-earliest-dmk/243974-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 March 2012}}</ref> He was recruited as a minister in 2009 during the second term on UPA coalition government as it was reported that the Prime Minister was unhappy with Baalu over the corruption charges in Sethusamudram project. But he continued as the head of the DMK parliamentary party and also part of various central committees.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chennai Corner|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?282764|newspaper=Outlook|location=Chennai|last=Iyengar|first=Pushpa|accessdate=30 November 2013|date=26 October 2012}}</ref>
Baalu is one of the prominent leaders to work towards the implementation of [[Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project]]. He was handling it during his tenure as the minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.<ref>[[#Gaur|Gaur]], p. 171</ref> The project proposes linking the [[Palk Bay]] and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal through the shallow sea sometimes called [[Setu Samudram]], and through the chain of islands variously known as [[Ram Sethu]] or the Adam's Bridge. A few organisations are opposing the dredging of Ramasethu on religious, environmental and economical grounds. Many of these parties and organisations support implementation of this project using one of the five alternative alignments considered earlier without damaging the structure considered sacred by Hindus.<ref>{{cite news|title=Alternative routes for Sethusamudram|url=http://www.nation.lk/2007/04/22/lankan.jpg|work=The Nation|date=22 April 2007|accessdate=26 June 2012|archive-date=3 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303100612/http://www.nation.lk/2007/04/22/lankan.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref> During 2006, the Supreme Court Baalu quashed a case requesting a ban on the project and issues notices to Baalu and the environment ministry.<ref>[[#Gaur|Gaur 2006]], p. 198</ref> With 22&nbsp;km of dredging remaining, the project is held from March 2010 by a [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] order seeking the [[Government of India|Central Government]] to clarify the status of the bridge as a national monument.<ref>{{cite news|work=IBN Live|title=Complete Sethusamudram project at earliest: DMK |date=30 March 2012|accessdate=7 August 2012|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/complete-sethusamudram-project-at-earliest-dmk/243974-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330223326/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/complete-sethusamudram-project-at-earliest-dmk/243974-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 March 2012}}</ref> He was recruited as a minister in 2009 during the second term on UPA coalition government as it was reported that the Prime Minister was unhappy with Baalu over the corruption charges in Sethusamudram project. But he continued as the head of the DMK parliamentary party and also part of various central committees.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chennai Corner|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?282764|newspaper=Outlook|location=Chennai|last=Iyengar|first=Pushpa|accessdate=30 November 2013|date=26 October 2012}}</ref>


DMK pulled out of the ruling UPA on 20 March 2013 following widespread protests in Tamil Nadu against the central government for not taking up the concerns of Tamils in Sri Lanka in the UN resolution against the alleged human rights violation against Tamils by Sri Lankan government.<ref name="SL">{{cite news|title=Alagiri snubs dad's confidant|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-21/india/37902386_1_madurai-strongman-chemicals-and-fertilizers-minister-dmk-s-alagiri|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203052651/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-21/india/37902386_1_madurai-strongman-chemicals-and-fertilizers-minister-dmk-s-alagiri|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|last=Ghildiyal|first=Subodh|accessdate=10 November 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|location=New Delhi}}</ref><ref name="sorry">{{cite news|title=Sorry chapter of M K Alagiri performance as Union minister|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sorry-chapter-of-m-k-alagiri-performance-as-union-minister/1093032/|work=The Indian Express|last=C.|first=Raja Mohan|date=25 March 2013|accessdate=10 November 2013|location=New Delhi}}</ref> There was a brief controversy when Azhagiri did not accompany the contigency led by Baalu, the head of MPs from the DMK party, to tender resignation in the Prime minister's office and to hand over the letter of withdrawal to the [[President of India|President]] on 20 March 2013. It was claimed as a mark of protest against his father [[Karunanidhi]]'s decision to pull out from the central ministry. Some sources claim he delayed his resignation as he was not kept in the loop while taking the decision and snubbed Baalu.<ref name="SL"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Srikant Jena Gets Alagiri's Chemicals-Fertilizers Portfolio|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=793107|work=The Outlook|date=20 March 2013|location=New Delhi|accessdate=10 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301014930/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=793107|archive-date=1 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pullout snub miffs Alagiri|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130321/jsp/nation/story_16698584.jsp#.UobKHflJMxU|work=The Telegraph|location=Chennai, India|last=G.C.|first=Shekhar|date=20 March 2013|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
DMK pulled out of the ruling UPA on 20 March 2013 following widespread protests in Tamil Nadu against the central government for not taking up the concerns of Tamils in Sri Lanka in the UN resolution against the alleged human rights violation against Tamils by Sri Lankan government.<ref name="SL">{{cite news|title=Alagiri snubs dad's confidant|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-21/india/37902386_1_madurai-strongman-chemicals-and-fertilizers-minister-dmk-s-alagiri|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203052651/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-21/india/37902386_1_madurai-strongman-chemicals-and-fertilizers-minister-dmk-s-alagiri|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|last=Ghildiyal|first=Subodh|accessdate=10 November 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|location=New Delhi}}</ref><ref name="sorry">{{cite news|title=Sorry chapter of M K Alagiri performance as Union minister|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sorry-chapter-of-m-k-alagiri-performance-as-union-minister/1093032/|work=The Indian Express|last=C.|first=Raja Mohan|date=25 March 2013|accessdate=10 November 2013|location=New Delhi}}</ref> Baalu, the head of MPs from the DMK party, to tender resignation in the Prime minister's office and to hand over the letter of withdrawal to the [[President of India|President]] on 20 March 2013.<ref name="SL"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Srikant Jena Gets Alagiri's Chemicals-Fertilizers Portfolio|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=793107|work=The Outlook|date=20 March 2013|location=New Delhi|accessdate=10 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301014930/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=793107|archive-date=1 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pullout snub miffs Alagiri|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130321/jsp/nation/story_16698584.jsp#.UobKHflJMxU|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131116014347/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130321/jsp/nation/story_16698584.jsp%23.UobKHflJMxU|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 November 2013|work=The Telegraph|location=Chennai, India|last=G.C.|first=Shekhar|date=20 March 2013|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>


The fifth [[Joint parliamentary committee]] was constituted in February 2011 to probe [[2G case]]. It is headed by [[P. C. Chacko|P.C. Chacko]] and had 30 members, 15 each from the ruling UPA and opposition members belonging to BJP, JD (U), CPI, CPM, Trinamool Congress, BJD, DMK and the AIADMK in the 30-member panel accused P.C. Chacko of being "partisan" and demanded his removal (They submitted a memorandum to the Lok Sabha Speaker expressing their "no-confidence".<ref>{{cite news|title=2G scam: Govt sets up 30-member JPC
On the [[Joint parliamentary committee]] constituted to examine the [[2G case]], Baalu was the only representative from the DMK in the committee and he, along with other opposition members, snubbed the report as "half boiled" as the draft report gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, while implicating the DMK minister A. Raja.<ref>{{cite news|title=Open to amending Joint Parliamentary Committee draft report on 2G scam if convinced, says Chacko|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/open-to-amending-jpc-draft-report-2g-scam-if-convinced-pc-chacko-india-today-160214-2013-04-24|location=New Delhi|work=India Today|date=20 March 2013|access-date=10 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2G scam: DMK MP T R Baalu gives dissent note|url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/2g-scam-dmk-mp-t-r-baalu-dissent-note--29049.html|work=India TV News|date=9 October 2013|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>
|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/2g-scam-govt-sets-up-30-member-jpc/1/130839.html|work=India Today|date=25 February 2013|location=New Delhi|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2G Scam: PC Chacko willing to consider amendments to JPC draft report|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1827631/report-2g-scam-pc-chacko-willing-to-consider-amendments-to-jpc-draft-report|work=DNA India|date=27 April 2013|location=New Delhi|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>) Three of the DMK MPs, namely, [[A. Raja]], the IT and Telecommunication minister, [[Kanimozhi]], the daughter of [[Karunanidhi]] and Rajya Sabha MP and [[Dayanidhi Maran]], the nephew and IT and Telecommunication minister preceding A. Raja, are the three accused in the scam. Baalu is the only member from the DMK in the committee and he, along with other opposition members, snubbed the report as "half boiled" as the draft report gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, while implicating the DMK minister A. Raja.<ref>{{cite news|title=Open to amending Joint Parliamentary Committee draft report on 2G scam if convinced, says Chacko|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/open-to-amending-jpc-draft-report-2g-scam-if-convinced-pc-chacko-india-today/1/267937.html|location=New Delhi|work=India Today|date=20 March 2013|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2G scam: DMK MP T R Baalu gives dissent note|url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/2g-scam-dmk-mp-t-r-baalu-dissent-note--29049.html|work=India TV News|date=9 October 2013|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=26 Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
* [https://loksabha.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=26&lastls=17 Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
*{{Official|http://www.trbaalu.in}}
*{{Official website|http://www.trbaalu.in}}
* {{cite book|title=Portraits of India's Parliamentarians for the New Millennium: Lok Sabha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XnP1rW35OsEC&q=tr+baalu&pg=PA465|last=R.C.|first=Rajamani|year = 2000|ref=Gyan Books|isbn=9788121207027}}
* {{cite book|title=Portraits of India's Parliamentarians for the New Millennium: Lok Sabha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XnP1rW35OsEC&q=tr+baalu&pg=PA465|last=R.C.|first=Rajamani|year = 2000|ref=Gyan Books|isbn=9788121207027}}


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{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{12th LS members from Tamil Nadu}}
{{15th LS members from Tamil Nadu}}
{{Energy Ministries and Departments of India}}
{{Energy Ministries and Departments of India}}
{{Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (India)}}
{{Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (India)}}
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[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:14th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:15th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 2009–2014]]
[[Category:17th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Indian amateur radio operators]]
[[Category:Indian amateur radio people]]
[[Category:Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Union ministers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:11th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1996–1997]]
[[Category:12th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1998–1999]]
[[Category:13th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Indians imprisoned during the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:Indian people imprisoned during the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:2G spectrum case]]
[[Category:2G spectrum case]]
[[Category:Corruption in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:People from Tiruvarur district]]
[[Category:People from Tiruvarur district]]
[[Category:Politicians from Chennai]]
[[Category:Politicians from Chennai]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of India]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of India]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election]]

Latest revision as of 12:23, 17 March 2026


In this Tamil name, there is no surname or family name. The name Thalikkottai Rajuthevar is a patronym, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Baalu.
T. R. Baalu
Baalu at the launch of his book compiling his parliamentary speeches "My Voice for the Voiceless!" in 2024
Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Assumed office
9 September 2020
PresidentM. K. Stalin
General SecretaryDurai Murugan
Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping
In office
22 May 2004 — 23 May 2009
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
ConstituencyChennai South, Tamil Nadu
Union Minister of Environment and Forests
In office
13 October 1999 — 21 December 2003
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
ConstituencyChennai South, Tamil Nadu
Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Non-Conventional Energy Sources
In office
6 July 1996 — 19 March 1998
Prime Minister
Leader of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Lok Sabha
Assumed office
24 May 2019
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
23 May 2019
Preceded byK. N. Ramachandran
ConstituencySriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
In office
16 May 2009 — 16 May 2014
Preceded byA. Krishnaswamy
Succeeded byK. N. Ramachandran
ConstituencySriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
In office
10 May 1996 – 16 May 2009
Preceded byR. Sridharan
Succeeded byC. Rajendran
ConstituencyChennai South, Tamil Nadu
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
30 June 1986 — 29 June 1992
ConstituencyTamil Nadu
Principal Secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
August 2018 – January 2020
PresidentM. K. Stalin
Personal details
Born
T R Balasubramaniam (Ilamurugu Rasuthevar)

(1941-12-13) 13 December 1941 (age 84)
(15 June 1941 as per official records)
Thalikottai, Madras Presidency, British Raj
(present-day Tamil Nadu, India)
Political partyDravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Spouse(s)
  • Renuka Devi Baalu
    ​
    (
    m. 1970; died 2025)
  • Porkkodi TRB
    (
    m. 1970)
Children5 (including T. R. B. Rajaa)[1]
Residence
Websitewww.trbaalu.in

Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu (born 13 December 1941) is an Indian politician. He is currently the MP of Lok Sabha of the Sriperumbudur constituency, elected seven times since 1996 from Chennai South and Sriperumbudur. He is a leader of the DMK party and is known for his political loyalty, having been in the party since 1957. He is now the Treasurer of DMK, elected unopposed on 3 September 2020. He earlier served as the Principal Secretary of the DMK Party from August 2018 to January 2020.

Political career[edit | edit source]

Thalikottai Raju Baalu is a prominent leader in the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) Party. Baalu was born on 13 December 1941 (his official DOB remains as 15 June due to confusion at the time of his birth) to Rajuthevar and Vadivambal at Thalikottai in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. He studied B.Sc. in New College (Madras University) and his diploma in drafting engineering drawings from the Central Polytechnic College, Chennai. Baalu's political career started at a very early age of sixteen when he joined the DMK party after being amused at a speech given by the late DMK Supremo Kalaignar in 1957. He was active in grass-root politics and made friends with his then neighbouring ward's youth wing personnel Stalin, who did not act like a big shot even though he was the son of the then Party President and Chief Minister Dr. Kalaignar Mu. Karunanidhi. Baalu later became the Party's Secretary for the bastion Chennai unit (Unsplit) in 1982.[1][2]

Baalu was first elected to Parliament as a member of Rajya Sabha in 1986, marking the first electoral defeat of AIADMK since MGR came to power.

He then became a member of the Lok Sabha in 1996 from Chennai South and became a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas under Prime Minister Devegowda. Towards the end of his tenure, he also held additional charge of the then Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (now called the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy). Baalu was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998, 1999 and 2004 from the same constituency and again in 2009, 2019 and 2024 from the Thiruperumbudur constituency, losing power once in 2014 contesting from Thanjavur. Baalu served as Cabinet Minister of Environment and Forests from 1999 to December 2003 and as Minister of Shipping and Road Transport and Highways from 2004 to 2009 in the union cabinet.[1]

T.R. Baalu is now the Leader of DMK Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha and He also held the charge as Chairman of the Department Related Standing Committee of Parliament of the Ministry of Railways. In addition, Baalu was a member of several parliamentary committees like Ethics Committee, House Committee and Consultative Committee of Ministry of Finance. He is also a Member of International World Affairs Council (IWAC).[1]

In his political career Baalu went to jail over 20 times for participating in demonstrations and agitations for public cause. He came to political limelight when he was jailed for one year under MISA along with DMK supremos Stalin, Maran and Dravidar Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani in 1976 for protesting against Emergency clamped in the country. He protested strongly against the midnight arrest and imprisonment of his party leader Karunanidhi on 30 June 2001.[1] At that time, he was the union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. And it was the first time, a Cabinet Minister to be arrested by a State's Police Force.[citation needed]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Baalu was married to his long-term love Renuka Devi (died 2025) and later to his niece Porkkodi, and has three sons and two daughters.[3] His second son T R B Rajaa (Renuka) is considered to be his political successor, having won 3 consecutive Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from their native constituency Mannargudi and now holds high offices both in the party (as DMK IT Wing Secretary) and the Tamil Nadu Government (as Industries, IP and Commerce Minister), while his other 2 sons Selvakumaar (Ren.), Rajkumar (Por.) and the eldest daughter Devi Kanchana (Por.) take care of the businesses and institution, while the younger Manonmani (Por.) previously worked as a reporter-journalist in Tamil news channels.

Baalu's first wife Renuka Devi died on the 19th of August 2025 due to age-related ailments at the age of 79 with her husband, 2 sons and their family by her side.

Elections contested and positions held[edit | edit source]

Lok Sabha[edit | edit source]

Year Constituency Party Votes % Opponent Opponent Party Opponent Votes % Result Margin %
2024 Sriperumbudur DMK 758,611 52.63 G. Premkumar AIADMK 271,582 18.84 Won 487,029 33.79
2019 793,281 56.53 A. Vaithilingam PMK 285,326 20.33 Won 507,955 36.2
2014 Thanjavur 366,188 36.62 K. Parasuraman AIADMK 510,307 51.03 Lost -144,119 -14.41
2009 Sriperumbudur 352,641 44.44 A. K. Moorthy PMK 327,605 41.28 Won 25,036 3.16
2004 Chennai South 564,578 60.41 Bader Sayeed AIADMK 343,838 36.79 Won 220,740 23.62
1999 562,221 60.03 V. Dhandayuthapani INC 322,037 34.39 Won 240,184 25.64
1998 432,913 48.17 Jana Krishnamurthi BJP 412,899 45.94 Won 20,014 2.23
1996 538,697 61.97 H. Ganesham AIADMK 199,516 22.95 Won 339,181 39.02
1991 255,965 34.66 R. Sridharan 418,493 56.66 Lost -162,528 -22
  • 1986–1992 : was elected as a Member, Rajya Sabha. This is considered to be Former TN CM Dr.MGR's first electoral defeat.
  • 1996: Elected to Lok Sabha (Eleventh) for the 1st time
  • 1996-1998: Minister of State, Petroleum, Natural Gas and Non-Conventional Energy Sources
  • 1998: Elected to Lok Sabha (Twelfth) for the second time
  • 1999: Elected to Lok Sabha (Thirteenth) for the third time
  • 1999-2003: Cabinet Minister, Environment and Forests
  • 2004: Elected to Lok Sabha (Fourteenth) for the fourth time from Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)
  • 2004-2009: Cabinet minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways.
  • 2009: Elected to Lok Sabha (Fifteenth) for the fifth time from Sriperumbudur[1]
  • 2019: Elected to Lok Sabha (Seventeenth) for the sixth time from Sriperumbudur
  • 2024: Elected to Lok Sabha (Eighteenth) for the seventh time from Sriperumbudur

As a member of parliament and minister[edit | edit source]

T. R. Baalu assumes the charge of Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi on 26 May 2004

Baalu is one of the prominent leaders to work towards the implementation of Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project. He was handling it during his tenure as the minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.[4] The project proposes linking the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal through the shallow sea sometimes called Setu Samudram, and through the chain of islands variously known as Ram Sethu or the Adam's Bridge. A few organisations are opposing the dredging of Ramasethu on religious, environmental and economical grounds. Many of these parties and organisations support implementation of this project using one of the five alternative alignments considered earlier without damaging the structure considered sacred by Hindus.[5] During 2006, the Supreme Court Baalu quashed a case requesting a ban on the project and issues notices to Baalu and the environment ministry.[6] With 22 km of dredging remaining, the project is held from March 2010 by a Supreme Court order seeking the Central Government to clarify the status of the bridge as a national monument.[7] He was recruited as a minister in 2009 during the second term on UPA coalition government as it was reported that the Prime Minister was unhappy with Baalu over the corruption charges in Sethusamudram project. But he continued as the head of the DMK parliamentary party and also part of various central committees.[8]

DMK pulled out of the ruling UPA on 20 March 2013 following widespread protests in Tamil Nadu against the central government for not taking up the concerns of Tamils in Sri Lanka in the UN resolution against the alleged human rights violation against Tamils by Sri Lankan government.[9][10] Baalu, the head of MPs from the DMK party, to tender resignation in the Prime minister's office and to hand over the letter of withdrawal to the President on 20 March 2013.[9][11][12]

On the Joint parliamentary committee constituted to examine the 2G case, Baalu was the only representative from the DMK in the committee and he, along with other opposition members, snubbed the report as "half boiled" as the draft report gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, while implicating the DMK minister A. Raja.[13][14]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Political Career". Parliament of India. National Informatics Centre. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  2. ↑ RC, p. 465
  3. ↑ "The Wives & Wherefores". The Outlook. New Delhi. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Gaur, p. 171
  5. ↑ "Alternative routes for Sethusamudram". The Nation. 22 April 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  6. ↑ Gaur 2006, p. 198
  7. ↑ "Complete Sethusamudram project at earliest: DMK". IBN Live. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  8. ↑ Iyengar, Pushpa (26 October 2012). "Chennai Corner". Outlook. Chennai. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ghildiyal, Subodh. "Alagiri snubs dad's confidant". The Times of India. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  10. ↑ C., Raja Mohan (25 March 2013). "Sorry chapter of M K Alagiri performance as Union minister". The Indian Express. New Delhi. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "Srikant Jena Gets Alagiri's Chemicals-Fertilizers Portfolio". The Outlook. New Delhi. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  12. ↑ G.C., Shekhar (20 March 2013). "Pullout snub miffs Alagiri". The Telegraph. Chennai, India. Retrieved 10 November 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ↑ "Open to amending Joint Parliamentary Committee draft report on 2G scam if convinced, says Chacko". India Today. New Delhi. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  14. ↑ "2G scam: DMK MP T R Baalu gives dissent note". India TV News. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

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Party political offices
Preceded by
 Leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Party in the 15th Lok Sabha
2009–2014 		Succeeded by

Template:12th LS members from Tamil Nadu Template:15th LS members from Tamil Nadu

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