T. R. Baalu: Difference between revisions

T. R. Baalu
T. R. Baalu
டி. ஆர். பாலு
	Baalu at the launch of his book compiling his parliamentary speeches, "My Voice for the Voiceless!"
Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 9 September 2020
President	Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin
Gen. Secretary	Durai Murugan
Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping
	In office; 2004–2009
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Constituency	Chennai South
Minister of Environment and Forests
	In office; 1999–2003
Prime Minister	Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Constituency	Chennai South
Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Non-Conventional Energy Sources
	In office; 1996–1998
Prime Minister	H.D. Deve Gowda; I.K. Gujral
Leader of DMK Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 24 May 2019
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 23 May 2019
Preceded by	K.N. Ramachandran
Constituency	Sriperumbudur
	In office; 2009–2014
Preceded by	A. Krishnaswamy
Succeeded by	K.N. Ramachandran
Constituency	Sriperumbudur
	In office; 1996–2009
Preceded by	R. Sridharan
Succeeded by	C. Rajendran
Constituency	Chennai South
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
	In office; 1986–1992
Constituency	Tamil Nadu
Principal Secretary of DMK
	In office; August 2018-January 2020
President	MK Stalin
Gen. Secretary	Perasiriyar K Anbazhagan
Personal details
Born	T R Balasubramaniam ; (Ilamurugu Rasuthevar); 13 December 1941 (age 82) (15/6/1941 in official records); Thalikottai, Tanjore district, Madras Presidency, British Raj (now Tamil Nadu, India)
Political party	DMK
Spouse	Renuka Devi Baalu (m. 1970); Porkkodi TRB (m. 1970);
Children	5, including T. R. B. Rajaa
Residence(s)	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Website	Official website
	Source: [1]

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Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu, better known as T. R. Baalu (called Baalu), 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.

Career and personal life

Thalikottai Raju Baalu is a prominent leader inthe 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

Baalu is married to his long-term love Renuka Devi 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.) and take care of the businesses and institution, while the younger Manonmani (Por.) worked as a reporter-journalist in Tamil news channels.

Elections contested and positions held

Year	Constituency	Result	Vote percentage	Opposition Candidate	Opposition Party	Opposition vote percentage
1991	Chennai South	Lost	34.66	R. Sridharan	AIADMK	56.66%
1996	Chennai South	Won	61.97	H. Ganesham	AIADMK	22.95^[4]
1998	Chennai South	Won	48.17	Jana Krishnamurthy	BJP	45.94^[5]
1999	Chennai South	Won	60.03	V. Dhandayudapani	INC	34.39^[6]
2004	Chennai South	Won	60.41	Sayeed Badar	AIADMK	36.79^[7]
2009	Sriperumbudur	Won	44.41	A.K. Moorthy	PMK	41.26^[8]
2014	Thanjavur	Lost	36.17	K. Parasuraman	AIADMK	50.41^[9]
2019	Sriperumbudur	Won	56.4	Vaithilingam.A	PMK	20.3
2024	Sriperumbudur	Won	52.65	G. Premkumar	AIADMK	18.85

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

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.^[10] 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.^[11] During 2006, the Supreme Court Baalu quashed a case requesting a ban on the project and issues notices to Baalu and the environment ministry.^[12] 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.^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15]^[16] There was a brief controversy when Azhagiri did not accompany the contingency 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 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.^[15]^[17]^[18]

The fifth Joint parliamentary committee was constituted in February 2011 to probe 2G case. It is headed by 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".^[19]^[20]) 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.^[21]^[22]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Political Career". Parliament of India. National Informatics Centre. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ RC, p. 465
^ "The Wives & Wherefores". The Outlook. New Delhi. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "Statistical report on General elections, 1996 to the 11th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 1996. p. 387. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "Statistical report on General elections, 1998 to the 12th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 1998. p. 234. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "Statistical report on General elections, 1999 to the 13th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 1999. p. 225. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "Statistical report on General elections, 2004 to the 14th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 2004. p. 281. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "Statistical report on General elections, 2009 to the 15th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 2009. p. 124. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "Statistical report on General elections, 2014 to the 16th Lok Sabha". Election Commission of India. 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
^ Gaur, p. 171
^ "Alternative routes for Sethusamudram". The Nation. 22 April 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
^ Gaur 2006, p. 198
^ "Complete Sethusamudram project at earliest: DMK". IBN Live. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
^ Iyengar, Pushpa (26 October 2012). "Chennai Corner". Outlook. Chennai. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ G.C., Shekhar (20 March 2013). "Pullout snub miffs Alagiri". The Telegraph. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "2G scam: Govt sets up 30-member JPC". India Today. New Delhi. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "2G Scam: PC Chacko willing to consider amendments to JPC draft report". DNA India. New Delhi. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ "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.
^ "2G scam: DMK MP T R Baalu gives dissent note". India TV News. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

External links

Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website
Official website
R.C., Rajamani (2000). Portraits of India's Parliamentarians for the New Millennium: Lok Sabha. ISBN 9788121207027.

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

[about-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Political Career". Parliament of India. National Informatics Centre. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[RC-2] RC, p. 465

[3] "The Wives & Wherefores". The Outlook. New Delhi. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[LS1996-4] "Statistical report on General elections, 1996 to the 11th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 1996. p. 387. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[LS1998-5] "Statistical report on General elections, 1998 to the 12th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 1998. p. 234. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[LS1999-6] "Statistical report on General elections, 1999 to the 13th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 1999. p. 225. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[LS2004-7] "Statistical report on General elections, 2004 to the 14th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 2004. p. 281. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[LS2009-8] "Statistical report on General elections, 2009 to the 15th Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. 2009. p. 124. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[LS2014-9] "Statistical report on General elections, 2014 to the 16th Lok Sabha". Election Commission of India. 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.

[10] Gaur, p. 171

[11] "Alternative routes for Sethusamudram". The Nation. 22 April 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2012.

[12] Gaur 2006, p. 198

[13] "Complete Sethusamudram project at earliest: DMK". IBN Live. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.

[14] Iyengar, Pushpa (26 October 2012). "Chennai Corner". Outlook. Chennai. Retrieved 30 November 2013.

[SL-15] 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.

[sorry-16] 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.

[17] "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.

[18] G.C., Shekhar (20 March 2013). "Pullout snub miffs Alagiri". The Telegraph. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[19] "2G scam: Govt sets up 30-member JPC". India Today. New Delhi. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[20] "2G Scam: PC Chacko willing to consider amendments to JPC draft report". DNA India. New Delhi. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[21] "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.

[22] "2G scam: DMK MP T R Baalu gives dissent note". India TV News. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

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@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 | native_name         = டி. ஆர். பாலு
 | image               = T R Baalu at his Book Release 2024.jpg
-| caption             = Baalu at the launch of his book compiling his parliamentary speeches, "My Voice, for the Voiceless!"
+| caption             = Baalu at the launch of his book compiling his parliamentary speeches, "My Voice for the Voiceless!"
 | birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1941|12|13}}                                    (15/6/1941 in official records)
 | birth_place         = Thalikottai, [[Tanjore District (Madras Presidency)|Tanjore district]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj]] (now [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | death_date          =
 | death_place         =
-| office1             = [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways|Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping]]
+| office1             = [[Minister of Road Transport and Highways|Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping]]
 | primeminister1      = [[Manmohan Singh]]
 | term1               = 2004–2009
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 | term3               = 1996–1998
 | primeminister3      = [[H.D. Deve Gowda]]<br />[[I.K. Gujral]]
-| office4             = Leader of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] Parliamentary Party, [[Lok Sabha]]
+| office4             = Leader of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] Parliamentary Party in [[Lok Sabha]]
 | term4               =
 | office5             = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 | spouse              = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Renuka Devi Baalu|1970}}<br /> {{marriage|Porkkodi TRB|1970}}}}
 | children            = 5, including [[T. R. B. Rajaa]]<ref name="about"/>
-| website             = {{official|www.trbaalu.in}}
+| website             = {{official website|www.trbaalu.in}}
 | footnotes           =
 | date                =
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 | General Secretary   = [[Durai Murugan]]
 | term start4         = 24 May 2023
-| term_start4         = 24 May 2023
+| term_start4         = 24 May 2019
 | 1blankname          = Gen. Secretary
 | 1namedata           = [[Durai Murugan]]
@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 | 8namedata1          =
 | 8blankname1         =
-| 8blankname          =
+| 8blankname          = [[Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister(s)]]
+| 8namedata           = [[M. G. Ramachandran|MGR]] (t.s.1986-87) <br/>[[Janaki Ramachandran|Janaki MGR]] (1987) <br/>[[M. Karunanidhi|'''Kalaignar''']] (1989-91) <br/>[[J. Jayalalithaa|Jayalalithaa]] (1991-t.e.93)
-| 8namedata           =
+| primeminister 8     = [[Rajiv Gandhi]]
-| 1namedata8          = [[M. G. Ramachandran|MGR]] <br> '''[[M. Karunanidhi|Kalaignar]]''' <br> [[J. Jayalalithaa|Jayalalithaa]]
+| birth_name          = T R Balasubramaniam <br/> (Ilamurugu Rasuthevar)
-| 1blankname8         = '''Chief Ministers'''
-| birth_name          = T R Balasubramaniam <br> (Ilamurugu Rasuthevar)
 }}
-'''Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu''', better known as '''T. R. Baalu''' (called Baalu), 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 five 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.
+'''Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu''', better known as '''T. R. Baalu''' (called Baalu), 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.
 == Career and personal life ==
-Thalikottai Raju Baalu is an leader of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) Party. Baalu was born on 13 December 1941 (his official DOB remains as 15th June due to confusion at the time of his birth) to Rajuthevar and Vadivambal at Thalikottai in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu.{{citation needed|date= October 2022}}   He studied  B.Sc. in [[New College, Chennai|New College]] ([[Madras University]]) and his diploma in drafting engineering drawings from Central Polytechnic, 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>
+Thalikottai Raju Baalu is a prominent leader inthe 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 first elected to Parliament as a member of [[Rajya Sabha]] in 1986.
+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.
-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" />
+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" />
-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" />
+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" />
-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]].{{citation needed|date= October 2022}}
+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}}
+== Personal Life ==
-Baalu is married to his long-term love Renuka Devi and later to his cousin Porkkodi, and  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 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 Minister), while his other 2 sons Selvakumaar (Ren.), Rajkumar (Por.) and the eldest daughter Devi Kanchana (Por.) and take care of the businesses and institution, while the younger Manonmani (Por.) worked as a reporter-journalist in Tamil news channels.
+Baalu is married to his long-term love Renuka Devi 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=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?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.) and take care of the businesses and institution, while the younger Manonmani (Por.) worked as a reporter-journalist in Tamil news channels.
 ==Elections contested and positions held==
-{|class="sortable wikitable"
+{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
 |-
 !width=50|Year
@@ Line 107: / Line 107: @@
 !width=70|Opposition Party
 !width=70|Opposition vote percentage
+|-
-|- style="background:#cfc;"
+|bgcolor=FFA07A|[[1991 Indian general election|1991]]
+|[[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]]
+|Lost
+|34.66
+|R. Sridharan
+|[[AIADMK]]
+|56.66%
+|-
 |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|archive-date=25 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525195023/http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS2230.htm?ac=30|url-status=dead}}</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
+|-
+|bgcolor=98FB98|[[2024 Indian general election|2024]]
+|[[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]
+|Won
+|52.65
+|G. Premkumar
+|[[AIADMK]]
+|18.85
 |}
@@ Line 133: / Line 149: @@
 *   '''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]]
+*   '''2024''': Elected to Lok Sabha (Eighteenth) for the seventh time from [[Sriperumbudur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sriperumbudur]]
 ==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|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>
@@ Line 151: / Line 168: @@
 ==External links==
 * [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}}
@@ Line 173: / Line 190: @@
 [[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]
 [[Category:India MPs 2009–2014]]
-[[Category:India MPs 2019–present]]
+[[Category:India MPs 2019–2024]]
 [[Category:Indian amateur radio operators]]
 [[Category:Union ministers from Tamil Nadu]]
@@ Line 180: / Line 197: @@
 [[Category:India MPs 1999–2004]]
 [[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:Corruption in Tamil Nadu]]
@@ Line 186: / Line 203: @@
 [[Category:Politicians from Chennai]]
 [[Category:Members of the Cabinet of India]]
+[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
+[[Category:Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election]]

v t e Members of the 12th Lok Sabha from Tamil Nadu
GE 1998	C. Kuppusami Murasoli Maran T. R. Baalu K. Venugopal Kanchi Panneerselvam C. Gopal N. T. Shanmugam D. Venugopal M. Durai Gingee N. Ramachandran M. C. Dhamotharan Dalit Ezhilmalai K. Pary Mohan K. P. Munusamy V. Saroja Vazhappady K. Ramamurthy K. Palaniswami Master Mathan V. K. Chinnasamy C. P. Radhakrishnan M. Thiyagarajan A. Ganeshamurthi C. Srinivasan Subramanian Swamy Sedapatti Muthiah M. Thambidurai Rangarajan Kumaramangalam P. Rajarethinam K. Krishnamoorthy M. Selvarasu S. S. Palanimanickam Raja Parmasivam P. Chidambaram V. Sathiamoorthy Vaiko R. Janarthanan S. Murugesan Ramarajan N. Dennis
Anglo-Indian	Beatrix D'Souza (Nominated)
11th LS members 13th LS members Members of the 12th Lok Sabha from States AP AR AS BR CT GA GJ HR HP JH KA KL MP MH ML MN MZ NL OR PB RJ SK TG TN TR UP UT WB Union territories AN CH DH DL JK LA LD PY

v t e Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (India)
Authorities	Central Zoo Authority of India National Biodiversity Authority National Tiger Conservation Authority
Subordinate offices	Andaman & Nicobar Islands Forest and Plantation Development Corporation Animal Welfare Board of India Botanical Survey of India Central Pollution Control Board Environmental Information System Odisha State Pollution Control Board Delhi Pollution Control Committee Directorate of Forest Education Forest Survey of India Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board National Board of Wildlife National Institute of Animal Welfare National Museum of Natural History National Zoological Park Zoological Survey of India Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
Institutions	Centre for Environment Education C. P. R. Environmental Education Centre, Chennai Centre for Animals and Environment, Bangalore Centre of Excellence in Environmental Economics, Chennai Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions Centre for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystem, Delhi Centre for Mining Environment, Dhanbad Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management
Autonomous Institutions	G. B.Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Almora Indian Institute of Forest Management Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, Bengaluru Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education Wildlife Institute of India
Tribunal	National Green Tribunal
Secretaries	CK Mishra (incumbent)
Ministers	Rajiv Gandhi Bhajan Lal Ziaur Rahman Ansari(As MoS, IC till 25 June 1988) V. P. Singh Nilamani Routray Maneka Gandhi(MoS, IC) Kamal Nath (MoS, IC) Rajesh Pilot (MoS, IC) Atal Bihari Vajpayee Jai Narain Prasad Nishad Saifuddin Soz H. D. Deve Gowda I. K. Gujral Suresh Prabhu T. R. Baalu Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ramesh Bais A. Raja Manmohan Singh Jairam Ramesh(MoS, IC) Jayanthi Natarajan(MoS, IC) M. Veerappa Moily Prakash Javdekar(MoS, IC) Anil Madhav Dave(MoS, IC) Dr. Harsh Vardhan Prakash Javdekar (incumbent)
MoS	Mahesh Sharma Babul Supriyo (incumbent)
Legislations	National Green Tribunal Act
Civil Service	Indian Forest Service