PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan who was until now Tamil Nadu’s Finance Minister (the 2nd most powerful post in the cabinet after the Chief Minister) has now been made the Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services.
This portfolio change comes 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.
Thangam Thennarasu, who was the Industries Minister has been given the Finance, Planning and Human Resources portfolio that PTR held.
DMK MP TR Baalu’s son and Mannargudi MLA TRB Rajaa has been made the Indsutries Minister while Mano Thangaraj has been made the Dairy Development Minister which was held by SM Nassar.
PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan in a lengthy post on social media boasted of the work he had done as Finance Minister while thanking the Chief Minister for the new responsibility.
The past two years have been the most fulfilling in my life. Under the leadership of CM @mkstalin, I presented one revised budget (’21 – ’22) during the pandemic, and two annual budgets (’22 – ’23, ’23 – ’24) post-pandemic. Despite inheriting record deficits and debt ratios, we…
— Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) May 11, 2023
The controversy over alleged audio clips of PTR had jittered the DMK. PTR gave a lengthy statement denying the audio calling it “malicious”, “fabricated” and “deepfake”. CM Stalin in a pre-recorded statement said that the Minister himself has clarified and he has nothing to add to it.
The audio clip had surfaced amidst Tamil Nadu BJP K. Annamalai accusing DMK leaders of gaining disproportionate assets over the years.
The first part of the alleged audio of PTR said “Both Udhay and Sabari have realised, they have made more money in one year than they [unclear] entire lives and now it’s getting to be a problem, how to handle it, how to not get caught, how to get payments here.. [unclear] Its all being made gradually? 10 to 20 crores.. assuming we will say 5000/30000 crores.. [unclear]. How can you [unclear] 5000/30000 crores without paying any [unclear]”, the audio clip supposedly of PTR says. (Some say the amount mentioned in the audio is 5000 crores while others note it is 30000).”
In the second clip of the alleged audio of PTR he can be heard abusing his own partymen saying “Here every (beep) district secretary wants be an MLA and Minister. Who looks after the party? Inaudible.. Ohh. it’s easier to do money management… it is not a system.. They are taking the bulk of the spoils..”
“The party which is the CM’s son and son-in-law, ask them to make the financing.. right? So I decide after watching this for 8 months.. This is not a sustainable model. The great luxury for me if I put my papers in.. In the short term I get out before the shit starts blowing up in their face. I have the like.. kind of.. what do you say.. cleanliness of my conscience that I did not have to like it wasn’t I gave up the fight too early.. I don’t have to say it.. I’m no longer in the post.. it’s not my job.. somebody did it.”, he says.
Listen to the DMK ecosystem crumbling from within. The 2nd tape of TN State FM Thiru @ptrmadurai.
Special Thanks to TN FM for drawing a proper distinction between DMK & BJP! #DMKFiles pic.twitter.com/FUEht61RVa
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 25, 2023