K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji
Minister for Milk and Dairy Development
In office
29 August 2016 – 2 May 2021
Chief MinisterJ.Jayalalithaa
O. Panneerselvam
Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Preceded byS. P. Shunmuganathan
Succeeded byS. M. Nasar
Minister for Rural Industries
In office
23 May 2016 – 28 August 2016
Chief MinisterJ.Jayalalithaa
Preceded byP. Mohan
Succeeded byP. Benjamin
Minister for Information and Special Programme implementation
In office
6 November 2011 – 22 May 2016
Chief MinisterJ.Jayalalithaa
O. Panneerselvam
Preceded byM. C. Sampath
Succeeded byS. P. Velumani
Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
16 May 2011 – 2 May 2021
Preceded byR. Gnanadoss
Succeeded byA. M. S. G. Ashokan
ConstituencySivakasi
Personal details
Political partyAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji is a former minister and former member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elected from the Sivakasi constituency in 2011 and 2016. He represented the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.[1]

Bhalaji was first appointed Minister for Information and Special Programme Implementation by Jayalalithaa in a cabinet reshuffle of November 2011.[2] He served as the Minister for Information and Special Programme implementation of Tamil Nadu during (November 2011 - May 2016) and as the Minister for Rural Industries of Tamil Nadu from (May 2016 - August 2016) and after reshuffle of portfolios in August 2016, he became the Minister for Milk and Dairy Development of Tamil Nadu during (August 2016 - May 2021).[3]

Bhalaji initiated a new scheme in “Aavin – Tamilnadu Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Limited” that milk would be available to the public 24 hrs in Chennai City and the same has been implemented throughout Tamil Nadu. This scheme has been appreciated by the public in a great manner.[4]

In 2021, he contested in Rajapalayam Legislative constituency and lost to the DMK candidate Thangapandiyan.

Controversies

On 25 September 2019, Balaji has fueled a controversy after calling Congress MP Manickam Tagore as an 'ungrateful dog' and asked people to beat him with slippers when he comes seeking vote in Nanguneri.[5] In another scathing remark he further called him a pig and asked people to shoot Manickam Tagore with rubber bullets if he ever went there.[6]

Bhalaji on May 13, 2019 created controversy when he said actor-politician Kamal Haasan's tongue should be chopped off for saying that Nathuram Godse was a Hindu extremist.[3] He also said Kamal Hassan's party Makkal Needhi Maiam should be banned and the Election Commission should take action. Makkal Needhi Maiam general secretary A Arunachalam said Bhalaji should be removed from his post as he lacks political ethics and personal dignity.[7]

On 9 March 2019, he claimed prime minister Narendra Modi as the father of his party AIADMK[8][9][10] on the demise of late J. Jayalalithaa who he and his party members called their mother.[11]

Sattur AIADMK MLA Rajavarman accused Balaji of threatening to kill him for 6 months with mercenaries. He claimed that Balaji threatened of cutting and stabbing him. He said this during a meeting on October 18, 2020.[12]

Elections contested

Tamil Nadu Legislative elections

Elections Constituency Party Result Vote percentage Opposition Candidate Opposition Party Opposition vote percentage
2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Sivakasi AIADMK Won 59.17 T. Vanaraja DMK 35.01
2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Sivakasi AIADMK Won 43.67 C. Sreeraja INC 35.28
2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election Rajapalayam AIADMK Lost 39.73 S. Thangappandian DMK 41.94

References

  1. ^ "List of MLAs from Tamil Nadu 2011" (PDF). Govt. of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Jayalalithaa sacks six Tamil Nadu ministers". NDTV. PTI. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b TNM Staff (14 May 2019). "TN Minister says Kamal Haasan's tongue should be cut for Hindu extremist comment". The news minute. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  4. ^ "இனி 24 மணி நேரமும் சென்னையில் ஆவின் பால் கிடைக்கும்!". The Times of India - சமயம். 21 April 2018.
  5. ^ ANI (25 September 2019). "Tamil Nadu: AIADMK minister stirs controversy, calls Congress MP 'ungrateful dog'". Business Standard India. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Tamil Nadu: AIADMK minister stirs controversy, calls Congress MP 'ungrateful dog'". www.aninews.in. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  7. ^ Lokpria Vasudevan (15 May 2019). "MNM seeks removal of Tamil Nadu minister for 'cut Kamal Haasan's tongue' remark". India Today. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  8. ^ "'He is Our Daddy, India's Daddy': Tamil Nadu Minister Gives PM Modi Paternal Designation". News18. 10 March 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  9. ^ "'Modi is our daddy, India's daddy'". The Hindu. 9 March 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Modi is our daddy, in absence of amma: AIADMK minister". The Week. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  11. ^ Narasimhan, T. E. (11 May 2015). "Extended 'Mothers' Day' for AIADMK cadre as 'Amma' Jayalalithaa walks free". Business Standard India. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  12. ^ "வெட்டிப்புடுவேன்.. குத்திப்புடுவேன்.. என அமைச்சர் மிரட்டுகிறார்.. அதிமுக எம்.எல்.ஏ. பகிரங்க புகார்.! | ADMK Mla Rajavarman complains about Minister Rajendrabalaji - Tamil Oneindia". 19 October 2020.
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