T. R. Baalu

T.Raju Baalu
Member of Parliament
Constituency	Tamil Nadu (Rajya Sabha) (1986-1992) Chennai South (1996-2009) Sriperumbudur (2009-present)
Personal details
Born	June 15, 1941(1941-06-15) Thalikottai, Tamil Nadu
Political party	DMK
Spouse(s)	Tmt.Renuka Devi Baalu(10 sep 1970) Smt.T.R.B. Porkodi,(19 oct 1970)
Children	Three sons T.R.B.Raj KumarChairman,Kings India Chemicals. T.R.B.RajaaChairman,Kings College of Engineering Selva Kumar Baalu,CEO Twice group and two daughters
Residence	Chennai
As of February 8, 2006 Source: [1]

Thalikottai Rajuthevar Baalu (Tamil: பாலு) (born June 15, 1941 in Thalikottai, Thiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu) is an Indian Tamil politician. T.R. Baalu did his BSc from New College in Madras University and diploma in drafting engineering drawings from Central polytechnic Chennai. He is a member of Lok Sabha of India from Chennai South constituency of Tamil Nadu and has been elected 4 times since 1996. He is an important leader of the DMK party and is known for political loyalty having been in the party since 1957. He is an industrialist with an engineering background in addition to being a political and social worker. Being a firm believer in numerology, he has changed his name to BAALU as against Balu (the normal way in which it is usually spelt).

Career

T. R. Baalu began his political career when he joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1957 as a 16 year old boy. He came to limelight when he was jailed under MISA for protesting against emergency for a year. He became the Secretary, DMK of Chennai city District unit in 1982.Baalu was first elected to Parliament as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1986 and served his full term till 1992. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996 and served as minister of state for petroleum, natural gas and non-conventional energy sources. He was re-elected in 1998, 1999 and 2004 from the Chennai South. He served as cabinet minister for environment and forests from 1999 to 2003. T. R. Baalu was also instrumental in starting the controversial Ram Sethu Project during the 14th Loksabha tenure. T.R.Baalu has been jailed over 15 times for participating in the agitations and demonstrations for public cause. During the Karunanidhi midnight arrest on June 30, 2001. T.R. Baalu was arrested for protesting against the arrest. T.R. Baalu refused to leave prison and said he would do so only if the charges were proved or dropped. Jayalalitha dropped the charges.

On October 17, 2008 he submitted his post-dated resignation to the DMK party chief M. Karunanidhi over the killings of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.

T.R Baalu is elected as Lok Sabha member from the Sriperumbuthur constituency in the 2009 Indian Parliamentary Election.wife selvi sons dr.t.r.b.surya kumar neuro surgen,dr.t.r.b.vijay kumar m.d.s,dr.t.r.b.priya m.b.b.s.child specialist.

Positions held

• 1986–1992 : was elected as a Member, Rajya Sabha
• 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 (Lok Sabha constituency)

See also

• Amateur radio in India

External links

• Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways
• Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website
• Members of Fourteenth Lok Sabha - Parliament of India website
• T.R.Baalu interview on arrest
• No Reason cited my arrest T.R.Baalu
• Charges against Baalu dropped
• Speakers for action over arrest
• QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - VU2TRB
• National Institute of Amateur Radio