Back in Stalin’s good books, PTR has last laugh months after ‘demotion’: ‘Transformed IT sector’

The controversy that erupted in Tamil Nadu over the “demotion” of Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, also known as PTR, in May last year, when Chief Minister M K Stalin shifted him from the Finance ministry to the Information Technology (IT) ministry – in the wake of allegations that PTR had cast negative light on the DMK’s first family in purported audio clips released by state BJP chief K Annamalai — was put to rest Friday, when the DMK chief himself commended Rajan at an event in Chennai.

Top DMK sources said Stalin’s accolades, which were unexpected by some leaders, were received with warm smiles by many within the party. It was seen as a “healing gesture”, a symbolic closure of a chapter on a past row, and a nuanced acknowledgment of PTR‘s diligent work ethic and his bid to “apply correctives in his tone and tenor”.

In the state’s political circles, PTR’s transfer of portfolio was seen as a “demotion”, especially when set against his expertise in finance besides his family background.

On Friday, Stalin reminded the audience that PTR is a “professional”, a former top banker, a graduate of premier institutions such as NIT Trichy and MIT, who chose to return to India to serve his people, and that his entry into politics was not just a career shift but a continuation of a legacy — “to serve the Tamil community on the footsteps of his father and grandfather.”

In the “leaked audio”, PTR was purportedly heard claiming that Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi and his son-in-law Sabareesan had allegedly amassed huge wealth by illegal means. PTR called the audio clips “forged” and malicious.

However, as the most vocal DMK voice against the Centre’s policies, particularly regarding financial matters like the GST dues and the undermining of