The Alanganallur Jallikattu event, a celebrated tradition in Tamil Nadu, took an unexpected turn as DMK’s internal dynamics came under scrutiny. PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, a senior DMK minister who also served as the state’s Finance minister earlier, with an impressive academic and professional background, was seen welcoming Inbanidhi, the son of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, at the airport for the event. This move has sparked criticism and raised questions about the party’s internal hierarchy and the growing culture of dynastic politics within the DMK.
துணை முதலமைச்சரின் மகனை வரவேற்க ஒரு அமைச்சர்..
அடடா இதுவல்லவா சுயமரியாதை…. pic.twitter.com/RhctjYtoZD
— Dinesh (@imdineshadmk) January 15, 2025
The Alanganallur Jallikattu event itself was a grand affair, with Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin flagging off the competition. Around 5,700 bulls and 1,698 players had registered for the event, with 1,100 bulls and 900 bullfighters receiving tokens. Udhayanidhi and his son Inbanidhi were prominently involved in the proceedings, further underscoring the family’s central role in the event.
At the event, DMK members were seen garlanding and welcoming Inbanidhi with the same enthusiasm and respect reserved for Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Zenith of dynastic politics ! The seasoned veterans of the dmk should hang their head in shame . pic.twitter.com/DaSGW2xrZw
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) January 16, 2025
This is not the first time. DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan (often referred as PTR), who often boasts about his privileged background, academic credentials and professional accomplishments, surprised many by taking a distinctly sycophantic tone on the occasion of DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin’s birthday. PTR, an MIT Sloan MBA graduate and Ph.D. holder with a career spanning global financial markets, marked the day by releasing a two-page advertisement in the DMK’s mouthpiece Murasoli. This move, is seen as unusual for a leader of his stature, who in fact disses BJP cadres’ admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as sycophancy.
The Advertisement That Outshone All Others
While it seemed to be a contest of sorts among the DMK cadre and minister as to who would outshine the others, some ministers chose modest one-page advertisements to celebrate the Chief Minister’s son, one released a song for the scion’s birthday, PTR went a step further, doubling down with a two-page spread.
It is noteworthy that DMK ministers who were elected as MPs hailed Udhayanidhi during their oath-taking ceremony in parliament earlier this year.
Coming back to the elaborate gesture by PTR, it featured effusive praises for Udhayanidhi, who, in stark contrast to PTR’s Ivy League pedigree, is a graduate of Loyola College with a career in Tamil cinema churning out back-to-back flop film before entering politics.
PTR’s lavish tribute stands out even in a party known for its public displays of loyalty. The advertisement which explains/gives a statement for each vowel in the Tamil language reads,
“November 27 is the day of the dawn of the vowel (uyir ezhuthu)
The one who was born to rule Mother Tamil Nadu!
The illustrious Dravidian son who won against Aryanism
The icon of youth uprising/rebellion!
An unparalleled success story!
The life painting of siblings!
A hero of policy that the town admires!
He is one for everyone!
He is an uplifting hero!
Five-letter mantra! (Udhayanidhi)
Hope for all Tamils!
The Dravidian generation of restless hard work!
You are full of authority!
May you live for many years….“
The advertisement is signed as follows:
P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan
Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services
In your path as long as I am alive…
PTR’s Illustrious Background
PTR who keeps boasting about his academic and professional credentials are hard to match. He graduated in chemical engineering from NIT Trichy, earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in human factors engineering from the University at Buffalo, and later completed an MBA in financial management at the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management. His professional career spanned top-tier financial institutions, including Lehman Brothers and Standard Chartered, where he apparently held senior leadership roles. He even holds a patent for structured loan commitment transactions.
Despite this, PTR’s political trajectory within the DMK appears increasingly dominated by adherence to the party’s culture of elevating its leadership through public demonstrations of loyalty.
Political Allegiance Over Accomplishment?
PTR who was initially the Finance Minister after the DMK came to power was later made the IT Minister following the leak of his purported audio accusing Chief Minister MK Stalin’s family of making more money in one year than they’ve made during their life time.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and a prominent DMK figure, is widely seen as the next in line for the party’s leadership. With a comparatively modest academic and professional background, Udhayanidhi has relied on his film career, and family legacy to make his mark in politics. The contrast between his résumé and PTR’s highly credentialed profile underscores the dominance of DMK’s first family.
Critics argue that PTR’s grand advertisement reflects an “element of hereditary slavery,” as some observers have put it. His willingness to publicly sing paeans to a younger colleague, regardless of the latter’s credentials or achievements, raises questions about the subjugation of meritocracy within the party’s internal hierarchy.
மற்ற அமைச்சர்களை பிடிஆர் தியாகராஜன் விஞ்சி விட்டார்.
அமைச்சர்கள் முரசொலியில் ஒரு பக்க விளம்பரம்தான் கொடுத்திருந்தார்கள். தியாகராஜன் இன்று இரு பக்க விளம்பரம்.
அதுவும் விளம்பரம் எப்படி இருக்கிறது என்று பாருங்கள்!
ஒரு பரம்பரை கொத்தடிமையின் கூறு வெளிப்படுகிறது.… pic.twitter.com/yGxKGfqfr7
— Savukku Shankar (@SavukkuOfficial) November 28, 2024
A while ago, an interview clipping of PTR Thiagarajan went viral. In the undated interview, PTR is seen saying, “If you run the party for unfit, useless successors, then some talented party will enter the scene and wash you away.”
PTR a giant among pygmies… 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/BSYNtjpW1c
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) September 29, 2024
It is not clear who PTR is speaking about but there is an inkling.
Additionally, PTR did not attend Udhayanidhi’s swearing-in ceremony as Deputy CM of TN and presented very vague reasons for his absence.
Whether PTR welcoming Inbanidhi at the airport is a sign of things to come remains to be seen and will need to be watched closely.
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