R. Rajendran (DMK politician)

{{Short description|Indian politician (born 1959)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = R. Rajendran

| image = R Rajendran.png

| caption =

| office = Minister for Tourism (Tamil Nadu)

| term_start = 29 September 2024

| term_end =

| predecessor =K. Ramachandran

| successor =

| office1 = Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

| term_start1 = 2016

| term_end1 =

| constituency1 = Salem North

| termstart2 = 2006

| termend2 = 2011

| constituency2 = Panamarathupatty

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1959|06|03}}

| birth_place = Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

| party = 20px Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

| spouse = Suseela Rajendran

| children = 1 Daughter

| parents =

| date =

| occupation = Politician, Advocate

| education = Bachelor of Arts, Law

| website =

}}

R. Rajendran (born 3 June 1959) is an Indian politician who serves as Minister for Tourism in the Government of Tamil Nadu.https://www.tn.gov.in/ministerslist He is a Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly{{cite web|title=Members of Legislative Assembly, Govt. of Tamil Nadu|url=https://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/16thassembly/members.php|publisher=Govt. of Tamil Nadu}} for the constituency of Salem North.{{Cite web|title=2016 MLA|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/15thassembly/members/051_100.html}}{{Cite web|title=2021 MLA|url=https://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/16thassembly/members.php}}

Early life

R Rajendran was born on 3 June 1959 in Tamil Nadu.{{Cite web|title= Rajendran Padayatchi Rayar |url=https://ourneta.com/neta/rajendran-padayatchi-rayar/|website=ourneta.com}} He hails from an agricultural background. He completed his primary school from Govt. School, Salem, and Higher Secondary school studies from Little Flower School, Salem. He entered politics during his college days and was active since early 1990s till now.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Politics

In 1985 he was appointed the Student Wing District Organizer by the Party President M. Karunanidhi. In 1992 he was appointed the District Organizer at DMK Youth Wing by present DMK President and then Youth Wing Secretary M. K. Stalin. In 1999 he was appointed the State Youth Wing Deputy Secretary by M. K. Stalin. In 2004 he acted as the State President for the Government LPF.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 2006 he was elected as the Member of Legislative Assembly, for the Panamarathupatty Assembly constituency . In 2015 he was appointed the District Secretary for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Salem (Central) after the death of former Minister Veerapandi Arumugam by the Party President M. Karunanidhi. In 2016 he was elected as the Member of Legislative Assembly, for the Salem North Assembly constituency.{{Cite news|title=Will Stalin reward lone DMK winner from Salem?|work=Indian Express|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/May/04/will-stalin-reward-lone-dmk-winner-from-salem-2298104.html/}} In 2021 he was elected as the Member of Legislative Assembly, for the Salem North Assembly constituency for the second time.

{{Cite web|title=Tamil Nadu 2021 - R. RAJENDRAN (Winner) - SALEM NORTH (SALEM) MLA |url=https://www.myneta.info/TamilNadu2021/candidate.php?candidate_id=184|website=myneta.info}}{{Cite web|title=Salem District - Elected Representatives|url=https://salem.nic.in/departments/election-department/elected-representatives/|website=Government of Tamil Nadu}}{{Cite news|title=R Rajendran|work=News 18|url=https://www.news18.com/assembly-elections-2021/tamil-nadu/r-rajendran-salem-north-candidate-s22a089c001/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114144322/https://www.news18.com/assembly-elections-2021/tamil-nadu/r-rajendran-salem-north-candidate-s22a089c001/|archive-date=14 November 2021}}

Ministry

On 29.09.2024 he was inducted in the Cabinet of DMK Ministry under Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and he took charge as Minister for Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu. He is the Second Minister for Salem District from DMK.{{Cite web |last=Karthikeyan |first=K. |date=2024-09-29 |title=Govi Chezhian to be TN’s next higher edu minister, Senthilbalaji likely to return to 'power' |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/govi-chezhian-to-be-tns-next-higher-edu-minister-senthilbalaji-likely-to-return-to-power-805542 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.dtnext.in |language=en}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-09-29 |title=Tamil Nadu Cabinet reshuffle: Senthilbalaji, three others sworn-in as Ministers |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-cabinet-reshuffle-senthilbalaji-three-others-sworn-in-as-ministers/article68697452.ece |access-date=2024-11-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-28 |title=Tamil Nadu Cabinet rejig: Senthil Balaji re-inducted, 3 ministers dropped |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/tamil-nadu-cabinet-reshuffle-v-senthil-balaji-minister-udayanidhi-stalin-mk-stalin-2608069-2024-09-28 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=India Today |language=en}}

Electoral performance

class="wikitable"
Election

! Constituency

! Party

! Result

! Vote %

! Runner-up

! Runner-up Party

! Runner-up vote %

! Ref.

style="background:#cfc;"

|bgcolor=#98FB98 | 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

Salem NorthDMKWon46.52%G. VenkatachalamAIADMK42.74%{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.tn.gov.in/Form20_TNLA2021/dt9/AC089.pdf |access-date= 30 Apr 2022 |archive-date= 30 Apr 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430083638/https://www.elections.tn.gov.in/Form20_TNLA2021/dt9/AC089.pdf |title=Assembly wise Candidate Valid Votes count 2021, Tamil Nadu|website=www.elections.tn.gov.in}}
style="background:#cfc;"

|bgcolor=#98FB98 | 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

Salem NorthDMKWon45.14%K. R. S. SaravananAIADMK39.99%{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.tn.gov.in/TNLA2016/AC%20WISE%20CANDIDATE%20COUNT.pdf |access-date= 30 Apr 2022 |archive-date= 30 Apr 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430083638/https://www.elections.tn.gov.in/TNLA2016/AC%20WISE%20CANDIDATE%20COUNT.pdf |title=Assembly wise Candidate Valid Votes count 2016, Tamil Nadu|website=www.elections.tn.gov.in}}
style="background:#ffc;"

|bgcolor=#98FB98 | 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

Salem WestAIADMKLost36.48%G. VenkatachalamAIADMK54.46%{{Cite report|url=http://www.elections.tn.gov.in/Web/Index_card_TNLA2011/10-DETAILEDRESULT_ver4.3.pdf|title=Detailes Result 2011, Aseembly Election Tamil Nadu |work=Election Commission of Tamil Nadu|access-date=9 May 2021 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170215085458/http://www.elections.tn.gov.in/Web/Index_card_TNLA2011/10-DETAILEDRESULT_ver4.3.pdf | archive-date =15 February 2017}}
style="background:#cfc;"

|bgcolor=#98FB98 | 2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

PanamarathupattyDMKWon44.57%R. ElangovanAIADMK42.20%{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.tn.gov.in/Web/Form20_2006/AC091.pdf |title=FORM20 All AC's Consolidated File-Election 2006.xls |access-date= 23 Oct 2022 |website=www.elections.tn.gov.in}}
style="background:#ffc;"

|bgcolor=#98FB98 | 2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

OmalurAIADMKLost30.89%S. SemmalaiAIADMK59.39%{{cite web | last = Election Commission of India |title = Statistical Report on General Election 2001 |url= http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2001/Stat_Rep_TN_2001.pdf |date = 12 May 2001 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006173934/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2001/Stat_Rep_TN_2001.pdf |archive-date=6 October 2010}}

References