Member of Lok Sabha and Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas

Having been elected to Lok Sabha from South Chennai Constituency on 5.7.1996, T.R. Baalu took over as Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, in the United Front Government in the Cabinet headed by H.D.Deva Gowda as Prime Minister.
After the fall of Deva Gowda Government in 10 months I.K.Gujral elected as the 12th Prime Minister of India and T.R. Baalu was as the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas in his cabinet. He was given additional charge as Minister of Non-Conventional Energy Resources.