THALIKOTTAI RAJUTHEVAR BAALU   - Member of Parliament   - Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

T.R. BAALU

Thalikottai Rajuthevar Baalu is a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha representing Sriperumbudur Constituency near Chennai. A front ranking political leader of Tamil Nadu with 64 years long political career, he is at present the Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

T.R.Baalu was born in 1941 at Thalikottai Village near Mannargudi, Thiruvarur District. His father Rajuthevar belonged to a farming family and was fondly held in high-esteem by the village community. T.R.Baalu had his education in Engineering in Central Polytechnic, Chennai. He also holds a B.Sc Degree in Mathematics and graduated from New College, Madras University, Chennai. T.R. Baalu has been elected to Lok Sabha six times since 1996. Earlier, he was Member of the Upper House of Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) for six years from 1986 to 1992.

Thalikottai Rajuthevar Baalu

Name                 : Thalikottai Rajuthevar Baalu

Date of Birth      : 15th June, 1941

Place of Birth     : Thalikottai, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu

Educational Qualifications: B.Sc. & Diploma in Civil Engineering.

Profession: Industrialist, Political Leader, Social Worker and Engineer.

Thalikottai Rajuthevar Baalu

Parliamentarian & Minister

 

1986-1992: Served as a Member, Rajya Sabha.

1996: Elected to Lok Sabha from South Chennai Constituency for the First Time.

1996-1998: Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and also Minister of Non-Conventional Energy Resources.

1998: Elected to Lok Sabha from South Chennai Constituency for the Second Time.

1999: Elected to Lok Sabha from South Chennai Constituency for the Third Time.

1999-2003: Union Cabinet Minister of Environment and Forests.

2004: Elected to Lok Sabha from South Chennai Constituency for the Fourth Time.

2004-2009: Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways.

2009-2014: Elected to Lok Sabha for the Fifth Time from Sriperumbudur Constituency.

2019: Elected to Lok Sabha for the Sixth Time, from Sriperumbudur.

POLITICAL LIFE of

T.R. BAALU

Thalikottai Rajuthevar Baalu is currently the Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He is also the Leader of DMK Party in Parliament. He is known for unflinching political loyalty, tireless work and strong ideological commitment.

T.R. Baalu’s political career began in the year 1957 when he got enrolled as a member of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at the young age of 16. During his early years in Royapettah, Chennai he was greatly inspired by the political ideologies of Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi and began to work with him for DMK party.

Since 1968 he devoted himself to full-time party work. Around the same time, the present DMK President and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin also took up to politics. The two young and fledgling political upcoming leaders worked together and took part in many agitations called by the party.

T.R.Baalu became Chennai District Secretary of DMK in 1982. He was imprisoned for more than 20 times for organizing and participating in a number of demonstrations and agitations called by the party for the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu. T.R.Baalu was detained in Chennai Central jail for one year under MISA Act in 1976, for protesting against the Emergency imposed in 1975-77 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

T.R. Baalu was arrested and put behind bars, when he strongly protested against the gruesome and notorious midnight arrest of Kalaignar Karunanidhi on 30.06.2001 while he was serving as a Union Cabinet Minister. As a Member of the Rajya Sabha, he participated in debates on crucial issues and made his mark as a well meaning Parliamentarian under the mentoring of Mr. Murasoli Maran.

In 1996, he was elected to Lok Sabha from South Chennai Constituency for the first time and was appointed as the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas. After some time, he was given additional responsibility as Minister of Non-Conventional Energy Resources. T.R. Baalu was elected to Lok Sabha in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004 from South Chennai Constituency and in 2009 & 2019 from Sriperumbudur Constituency.

Chennai District D.M.K Secretary (1982)

Chennai District Secretary of D.M.K (1982)

  • T.R. Baalu’s active involvement in party activities saw him as Deputy District Secretary of Chennai DMK. Eight years later, in 1982 he was elected as Chennai District Secretary of DMK.
  • As District Secretary, he infused enormous strength and vigour to the party, through sustained hard work.
  • When the party leadership and cadre were targeted during the Emergency days for vehemently opposing it, T.R. Baalu stood by Kalaignar as a bulwark with unshakable courage.
  • He also organized and took part in a number of important agitations launched by DMK including the one to protect the interests and safety of Tamils in Sri Lanka on whom atrocities were unleashed by Sri Lankan Government and army.

(Speaking in Parliament)

Veteran Member of Parliament

  • For over 30 years T.R. Baalu has been a popular Member of Indian Parliament and has been a fiery voice of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
  • He became the Leader of DMK Party in Parliament in 2004 and held that position for ten years till 2014. From May 2019, T.R.Baalu has been the DMK Parliament Party Leader for the second time.
  • Ensuring complete utilization of MP local area development funds allotted to him. Since 1996 a number of basic facilities like School buildings, Bus passenger shelters, Community Halls, Drinking water facilities, etc., where created in his constituencies. 

Liquified Natural Gas Conference (1996)

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas (1996 - 1998)

  • Led High-Powered delegation to Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in June-July 1997 to attract foreign investors in search of Petroleum resources in India.
  • Made a revolution by providing 33 percent reservation in Petrol bunk license’s to Women.
  • Implemented projects to make Cooking Gas Connection readily available to rural people.
  • Launched policy and programme for LNG import terminals to ensure availability of natural gas all over India.

Sworn in as Union Minister of Environment & Forests on 13.10.1999

Minister of Environment and Forests (1999-2003)

  • Environmental protection is an international movement. He led as leader of Indian delegation; he participated in all UN Conferences on the Environment and Sustainable Development and made India’s contribution constructive.
  • On behalf of India, he raised a strong voice for the implementation of international agreements on climate change, Ozone Layer protection and on implementing UN programs to enable developing countries to get funding for clean technology.
  • In October 2002, on behalf of UN he successfully hosted the 8th Conference of Parties on Global Warming in New Delhi, wherein “Delhi Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development” was adopted.
  • He was also elected as the President of the Conference of Parties of UN agreement on Climate Change.

Inauguration of SETHU SAMUTHRA PROJECT (02.07.2005)

Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (2004 - 2009)

  • The 150 years dream of Tamil Nadu, Sethu Samudram Project works was launched on 2.7.2005 at Madurai at a cost of Rs.2460 crore.
  • National Maritime Development Programme to ensure comprehensive development of Twelve Indian Major Ports, Shipping and Inland Waterways was launched involving an investment of Rs.55,000 crore.
  • National Highways Development Programme at an investment of Rs.58,219 crore was launched to upgrade 6609 km National Highways & major State Highways into 4/6 lane expressways of international standards.

Assuming, Charge as Treasurer of DMK Party (09.09.2020)

Treasurer, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (From 2020 onwards)

  • In recognition of his unparallel contributions over 64 years, to the growth of DMK, T.R. Baalu was elected as Treasurer of DMK in 2020.
  • Prior to this, he also served as Party’s Principal Secretary for a year.

 Man of DMK Election Manifesto

  • T.R.Baalu, as the Chairman of the Election Manifesto Committee authored the Manifesto of DMK for the 2016 & 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Election and 2014 & 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

About T.R. Baalu Family

Along with his successful political career, T.R.Baalu had been successful in his personal life also.

He set up many business enterprises in chemical industry, fishing & exports, academics, film distribution etc. and developed them into successful ventures

T.R. Baalu has three sons and two daughters, namely:

Mr. T.R.B Raj Kumar

Mr. T.R.B Raja

Mr. T.R.B Selvakumar

Mrs. Kanchanadevi

Mrs. Manonmani

His sons are managing the business concerns efficiently.

Second son T.R.B Raja is in politics and has been DMK MLA of Mannargudi Assembly constituency, three times in a row in 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Special Moments of T.R. Baalu

T. R. Baalu’s Life Journey from 1941 to present…