In what could be a major embarrassment both to the DMK and the Congress, MK Alagiri, who was recently expelled from the DMK, said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not induct TR Baalu in the UPA-II due to his misdeeds during his tenure in the UPA-1 (2004 to 2009).
Baalu was the Union Minister for Surface Transport in the UPA-1 but failed to make it to the UPA-II Cabinet though he was re-elected from Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. Baalu is already under the scanner of the Election Commission following charges of misuse of the official machinery (postal department) for disseminating his campaign materials.
Addressing party workers at Thanjavur on Wednesday, where Baalu is the DMK candidate for the upcoming lok Sabha election, Alagiri, the elder son of party chief Karunanidhi said the former got himself shifted to Thanjavut out of fear. “Baalu knew that the people of Sriperumbudur would not re-elect him as he has done nothing for the constituency. Hence he paid money to the party leaders and got himself the Thanjavur seat,” said Alagiri.
Alagiri charged that a sulking Baalu tried many times to get Alagiri and other DMK Ministers ousted from the Council of Ministers. The DMK brought in Baalu to Thanjavur by denying SS Palanimanickam, who has been representing the constituency since 1996.
Alagiri also charged that Baalu, during his tenure as surface Transport Minister, bought 10 trawlers misusing his official position. Baalu is the second DMK candidate to face the wrath of the Madurai strongman of the party.
“It is for the benefit of these trawlers that Baalu is insisting that the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel project should be implemented come, whatever the cost may be,” he said. He has instructed the DMK cadre at Theni to ensure that Muthuramalingam, the party candidate finishes only in the fourth place.
The Anjanenjan (brave heart, as he is addressed by party loyalists) is out to wreck the DMK poll prospects. It was Alagiri who spoiled the re-election possibilities of the DMK in 2001 when he campaigned against party workers in the assembly election.
“Baalu initiated the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project knowing fully well that lot of money could be made out of dredging the area. Though experts had warned him that the project is not viable economically as well as ecologically, he had over ruled them. The Supreme Court has asked the government to keep the work in abeyance,” said Dr Swamy. Only ships with 25,000 Dead Weight Tonnage could sail through the Sethusamudram Channel while such vessels have become museum pieces now, Dr Swamy pointed out.