->BattyBot at 21:39, 6 January 2022

2022-01-06T21:39:03Z

New page

{{short description|Former Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
'''K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji''' is a former minister and former member elected in the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] from the [[Sivakasi (State Assembly Constituency)|Sivakasi constituency]] in 2011 and 2016. He represented the [[Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] party .<ref>{{cite web|title=List of MLAs from Tamil Nadu 2011 |url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/member_list.pdf |publisher=Govt. of Tamil Nadu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320103427/http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/member_list.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-20 }}</ref>

He served as the [[Minister for Information and Special Programme implementation]] of Tamil Nadu during (Nov2011-May2016) and as the [[Minister for Rural Industries]] of Tamil Nadu from (May2016-Aug2016) and after reshuffle of portfolios in August 2016 he became the [[Minister for Milk and Dairy Development]] of Tamil Nadu during (Aug2016-May2021).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/tn-minister-says-kamal-haasan-s-tongue-should-be-cut-hindu-extremist-comment-101734|title=TN Minister says Kamal Haasan's tongue should be cut for Hindu extremist comment|author=TNM Staff|website=The news minute|date=14 May 2019|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref>

During the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, he contested in Rajapalayam Legislative constituency and lost to the DMK candidate Thangapandiyan.

Bhalaji was first appointed Minister for Information and Special Programme Implementation by [[Jayalalithaa]] in a cabinet reshuffle of November 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jayalalithaa sacks six Tamil Nadu ministers |agency=PTI |date=4 November 2011 |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jayalalithaa-sacks-six-tamil-nadu-ministers-572958 |work=NDTV |accessdate=2017-05-04}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tamil.samayam.com/latest-news/state-news/chennai-aavin-milk-supply-by-24-hours/articleshow/63852799.cms|title=இனி 24 மணி நேரமும் சென்னையில் ஆவின் பால் கிடைக்கும்!|date=21 April 2018|work=The Times of India - சமயம்}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
On 25 September 2019, Balaji has fueled a controversy after calling Congress MP [[Manicka Tagore|Manickam Tagore]] as an 'ungrateful dog' and asked people to beat him with slippers when he comes seeking vote in [[Nanguneri]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/tamil-nadu-aiadmk-minister-stirs-controversy-calls-congress-mp-ungrateful-dog-119092500545_1.html|title=Tamil Nadu: AIADMK minister stirs controversy, calls Congress MP 'ungrateful dog'|last=ANI|date=2019-09-25|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref> In another scathing remark he further called him a pig and asked people to shoot Manickam Tagore with [[rubber bullet]]s if he ever went there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/tamil-nadu-aiadmk-minister-stirs-controversy-calls-congress-mp-ungrateful-dog20190925141254/|title=Tamil Nadu: AIADMK minister stirs controversy, calls Congress MP 'ungrateful dog'|website=www.aninews.in|language=en|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0" /> 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|A Arunachalam]] said Bhalaji should be removed from his post as he lacks [[political ethics]] and personal dignity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/mnm-seeks-removal-of-tamil-nadu-minister-for-cut-kamal-haasan-s-tongue-remark-1525062-2019-05-14|title=MNM seeks removal of Tamil Nadu minister for 'cut Kamal Haasan's tongue' remark|last1=May 14|first1=Lokpria Vasudevan|last2=May 15|first2=2019UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-10-18|last3=Ist|first3=2019 00:31}}</ref>

On 9 March 2019, he claimed prime minister [[Narendra Modi]] as the father of his party [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/he-is-our-daddy-indias-daddy-tamil-nadu-minister-gives-pm-modi-paternal-designation-2062071.html|title='He is Our Daddy, India's Daddy': Tamil Nadu Minister Gives PM Modi Paternal Designation|website=News18|date=10 March 2019|access-date=2019-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/modi-is-our-daddy-indias-daddy/article26476271.ece|title='Modi is our daddy, India's daddy'|date=2019-03-09|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-02|others=Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/03/09/modi-daddy-absence-amma-aiadmk.html|title=Modi is our daddy, in absence of amma: AIADMK minister|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02}}</ref> on the demise of late [[J. Jayalalithaa]] who he and his party members called their mother.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/extended-mothers-day-for-aiadmk-cadre-as-amma-jayalalithaa-walks-free-115051100263_1.html|title=Extended 'Mothers' Day' for AIADMK cadre as 'Amma' Jayalalithaa walks free|last=Narasimhan|first=T. E.|date=2015-05-11|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-10-03}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tamil.oneindia.com/amphtml/news/virudhunagar/admk-mla-rajavarman-complains-about-minister-rajendrabalaji-400795.html|title = வெட்டிப்புடுவேன்.. குத்திப்புடுவேன்.. என அமைச்சர் மிரட்டுகிறார்.. அதிமுக எம்.எல்.ஏ. பகிரங்க புகார்.! | ADMK Mla Rajavarman complains about Minister Rajendrabalaji - Tamil Oneindia|date = 19 October 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Government of Tamil Nadu}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balaji, K. T. Rajenthra}}
[[Category:Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

{{AIADMK-politician-stub}}

K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji - Revision history

->BattyBot at 21:39, 6 January 2022