Rajendran. R

R. Rajendran, 66, is a veteran DMK politician currently serving as the Tourism Minister of Tamil Nadu since September 29, 2024, and represents Salem North constituency in the state assembly. Born on June 3, 1959, in Salem, he comes from an agricultural family and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and an LL.B. law degree. His political journey began during his college years in the early 1990s, rising through DMK's organizational ranks from College Student Wing President to various district and state-level positions. With declared assets of ₹3.53 crores comprising agricultural land and movable assets befitting his profession as an agriculturist and MLA, Rajendran has no declared criminal cases or liabilities. Rajendran's electoral record shows both resilience and strong local connect. After losing his first election from Omalur in 2001, he won from Panamarathupatty in 2006 before losing again from Salem West in 2011. His fortunes turned with Salem North, where he has won consecutively in 2016 (86,583 votes, 45.14%) and 2021 (93,432 votes, 46.17%), defeating AIADMK opponents by comfortable margins. This demonstrates his ability to build and maintain grassroots support in his constituency over multiple election cycles. While Rajendran himself has not been directly implicated in recent controversies, the broader DMK government faces significant scrutiny. Opposition parties have accused the administration of multiple corruption scandals including alleged cash-for-transfer (₹365 crore), cash-for-jobs (₹900 crore), and sand mining (₹4,700 crore) scams. The Enforcement Directorate has been investigating several DMK leaders, though the Supreme Court has criticized the agency for overreach. Critics also claim the government has failed to deliver development projects and address safety concerns, particularly regarding women, children, and drug abuse. Voters in Salem North should know that Rajendran is a senior DMK loyalist with no party-switching record and deep organizational experience. As Tourism Minister, he holds a significant position in the state cabinet. However, he operates within a government facing serious corruption allegations and criticism over development failures. His consistent electoral success suggests strong local popularity, but the broader political environment remains contentious with investigations and inter-party accusations dominating headlines.