Rajenthrabhalaji K T

K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, 62, is a veteran AIADMK politician who represented Sivakasi constituency for two consecutive terms (2011, 2016) and held multiple ministerial portfolios under Chief Ministers J. Jayalalithaa and Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Starting as Minister for Information and Special Programme Implementation (November 2011 - May 2016), he later served as Minister for Rural Industries (May 2016 - August 2016) and Minister for Milk and Dairy Development (August 2016 - May 2021). His electoral performance was strong in 2011 when he secured 59% vote share defeating DMK's Vanaraja.T, though his margin narrowed in 2016 to 14,748 votes with 43.67% vote share against INC's C. Sreeraja. He lost the 2021 election from Rajapalayam constituency to DMK's Thangapandiyan. His ministerial tenure saw both achievements and controversies. Bhalaji is credited with implementing a popular 24-hour milk availability program through Aavin across Tamil Nadu, which received public appreciation. However, his career has been severely tarnished by serious legal troubles. In February 2025, the CBI filed charges against him under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) for allegedly collecting bribes up to ₹30 lakh from victims promising government jobs, including positions in Aavin. Multiple FIRs were registered in 2021, leading to his arrest in Karnataka in January 2022. The Supreme Court granted him interim bail in March 2026, criticizing the state police for procedural irregularities. Beyond corruption allegations, Bhalaji has courted controversy through inflammatory public statements. He was removed as AIADMK district secretary in Virudhunagar in March 2020 after making controversial remarks linking COVID-19 to religion. He also made harsh statements against actor-politician Kamal Haasan in 2019. His current political role involves advocating for AIADMK's comeback under Edappadi K. Palaniswami and urging opposition unity against the DMK, including calls for actor Vijay's TVK to align with the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Voters in Sivakasi should weigh his developmental initiatives during his ministerial tenure against the serious ongoing criminal proceedings. The CBI investigation into job scam allegations represents substantial corruption charges involving monetary fraud, and his history of controversial statements raises questions about temperament and judgment. With declared assets of ₹3.67 crore and liabilities of ₹1.12 crore, plus three criminal cases involving eight serious IPC sections including cheating, conspiracy, and breach of trust, his candidacy presents significant concerns despite his political experience.