T.R. Baalu

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**Thiru Raju Baalu**

Born	June 15, 1941 Thalikottai, Tamil Nadu
Residence	Chennai
Office	Member of Parliament
Constituency	Chennai South
Political party	DMK
Spouse	Smt. T.R.B. Porkodi
Children	Three sons and two daughters
As of February 8, 2006 Source: [1]

Thalikottai Rajuthevar Baalu was born on June 15, 1941 in Thalikottai, Thiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu.He is the cabinet minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways.T.R.Baalu did his BSC from New College in Madras University and engineering from Central polytechnic Chennai.He is a member of Lok Sabha of India from Chennai South constituency of Tamil Nadu and has elected 4 times since 1996.He is an important leader of the DMK party and is known for political loyality having been in the party since 1957.He is an industrialist with an engineering background in addition to being a Political and Social Worker.

1 Career
2 Positions Held
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Career

T.R.Baalu began his political career when he joined the 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 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 to leave prison and said he would do so only if the charges were proved or dropped. Jayalalitha dropped the charges.^[1]

[edit] Positions Held

1986-1992 : was elected as a Member, Rajya Sabha
1996:Elected to Lok Sabha (Eleventh) for the first 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
2004:is currently the Cabinet minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways.