Removal of Palanivel Thiaga Rajan’s name from DMK speakers’ list triggers speculation

Name dropped on minister's request, say party sources

The DMK sources said P Thiaga Rajan made the request for dropping his name because of the recent controversies his name had been dragged into. (Source: Twitter/@ptrmadurai)

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Tamil Nadu finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan’s (PTR) name suddenly went missing from the list of speakers at DMK events organised in district headquarters and major towns across the state on Sunday, triggering speculation about internal party changes.

However, when asked about the change, senior DMK sources told The Indian Express that Rajan himself requested the removal of his name from the list.

Rajan’s name was there on the initial list of speakers prepared by the DMK headquarters for a series of events planned on the weekend to mark the party’s two years in power. Rajan was scheduled to speak in his hometown, Madurai, along with other ministers. On Sunday, when the party’s organ, Murasoli, published the final list of speakers, Rajan’s name was absent.

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The DMK sources said Rajan made the request for dropping his name because of the recent controversies his name had been dragged into, believing it would be better for him to avoid public speeches. The party leadership agreed to his request, the sources added.

Rajan, a key minister in the DMK Cabinet, was embroiled in a controversy last month after two audio clips, allegedly featuring his voice, were leaked by a Chennai-based whistle-blower and BJP state unit president K Annamalai. The audio clips suggested corruption within Chief Minister M K Stalin’s family. Rajan subsequently issued a statement denouncing the audio as fake and artificially created.

Days after the audio leak, income tax personnel had raided G-Square, a real estate company with alleged links to the Stalin family.

The Indian Express had reported on May 3 that Rajan may be relieved of his finance minister portfolio in a Cabinet reshuffle expected to be announced before May 20.

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A senior DMK leader said by restructuring his Cabinet, Stalin would send out a clear message that “nobody should think that they will be ministers forever”.

However, contrary to speculation, the embattled Rajan is unlikely to face the axe even though his portfolio will be downgraded, sources said. “Stalin may thus give him (PTR) a chance,” the party insider explained, indicating a possible portfolio change for PTR instead of ouster from the Cabinet.