| K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji | |
| Office: | Minister for Milk and Dairy Development |
| 1Blankname: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata: | J.Jayalalithaa O. Panneerselvam Edappadi K. Palaniswami |
| Term Start: | 29 August 2016 |
| Term End: | 2 May 2021 |
| Predecessor: | S. P. Shunmuganathan |
| Successor: | S. M. Nasar |
| Office1: | Minister for Rural Industries |
| 1Blankname1: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata1: | J.Jayalalithaa |
| Term Start1: | 23 May 2016 |
| Term End1: | 28 August 2016 |
| Predecessor1: | P. Mohan |
| Successor1: | P. Benjamin |
| Office2: | Minister for Information and Special Programme implementation |
| 1Blankname2: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata2: | J.Jayalalithaa O. Panneerselvam |
| Term Start2: | 6 November 2011 |
| Term End2: | 22 May 2016 |
| Predecessor2: | M. C. Sampath |
| Successor2: | S. P. Velumani |
| Office3: | Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly |
| Term Start3: | 16 May 2011 |
| Term End3: | 2 May 2021 |
| Constituency3: | Sivakasi |
| Predecessor3: | R. Gnanadoss |
| Successor3: | A. M. S. G. Ashokan |
| Party: | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji is a former minister and former member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elected from the Sivakasi constituency in 2011 and 2016. He represented the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.[1]
Bhalaji was first appointed Minister for Information and Special Programme Implementation by Jayalalithaa in a cabinet reshuffle of November 2011.[2] He served as the Minister for Information and Special Programme implementation of Tamil Nadu during (November 2011 - May 2016) and as the Minister for Rural Industries of Tamil Nadu from (May 2016 - August 2016) and after reshuffle of portfolios in August 2016, he became the Minister for Milk and Dairy Development of Tamil Nadu during (August 2016 - May 2021).[3]
Bhalaji initiated a new scheme in “Aavin – Tamilnadu Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Limited” that milk would be available to the public 24 hrs in Chennai City and the same has been implemented throughout Tamil Nadu. This scheme has been appreciated by the public in a great manner.[4]
In 2021, he contested Rajapalayam Legislative constituency and lost to the DMK candidate Thangapandiyan.
On 25 September 2019, Balaji has fueled a controversy after calling Congress MP Manickam Tagore as an 'ungrateful dog' and asked people to beat him with slippers when he comes seeking vote in Nanguneri.[5] In another scathing remark he further called him a pig and asked people to shoot Manickam Tagore with rubber bullets if he ever went there.[6]
Bhalaji on May 13, 2019 created controversy when he said actor-politician Kamal Haasan's tongue should be chopped off for saying that Nathuram Godse was a Hindu extremist. He also said Kamal Hassan's party Makkal Needhi Maiam should be banned and the Election Commission should take action. Makkal Needhi Maiam general secretary A Arunachalam said Bhalaji should be removed from his post as he lacks political ethics and personal dignity.[7]
On 9 March 2019, he claimed prime minister Narendra Modi as the father of his party AIADMK[8] [9] [10] on the demise of late J. Jayalalithaa who he and his party members called their mother.[11]
Sattur AIADMK MLA Rajavarman accused Balaji of threatening to kill him for 6 months with mercenaries. He claimed that Balaji threatened to cut and stab him. He said this during a meeting on October 18, 2020.[12]
| Elections | Constituency | Party | Result | Vote percentage | Opposition Candidate | Opposition Party | Opposition vote percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | Sivakasi | AIADMK | 59.17 | T. Vanaraja | DMK | 35.01 | ||
| 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | Sivakasi | AIADMK | 43.67 | C. Sreeraja | INC | 35.28 | ||
| 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | Rajapalayam | AIADMK | 39.73 | S. Thangappandian | DMK | 41.94 |