Published May 18, 2026 | 11:46 AM ⚊ Updated May 18, 2026 | 11:46 AM
Palanivel Thiaga Rajan. (South First)
Synopsis: Former Tamil Nadu minister Dr P Thiaga Rajan announced a break from public life after his loss from the Madurai Central Assembly constituency. In an open letter, the former minister reflected on his life as a legislator, minister, party worker and what he has done for his constituency.
Former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader Dr P Thiaga Rajan on Monday, 18 May, announced a break from public life after his loss from the Madurai Central Assembly constituency.
In an open letter, he said he is looking forward to a few weeks as a private citizen to give talks and lectures across India and abroad, and to complete authoring a book.
However, he added that his passion for public service and to be an agent of change remains undiminished.
In the letter, the former minister reflected on his life as a legislator, minister, party worker and what he has done for his constituency.
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He said that 10 years ago, he left a long expatriate career and entered electoral politics with the desire to work for the betterment of society and improvement of people’s lives.
He said while he is satisfied that he was able to make a difference in many ways — for DMK, Madurai Central Constituency, and Tamil Nadu (as a Minister) — he could not close out many of the initiatives and projects that he started.
Thiaga Rajan (PTR) said after he took over the DMK IT Wing in 2017, the team strengthened the electoral platform of the party and greatly expanded its online presence.
We managed the entire online campaign for the 2019 election, including many pioneering approaches. In 2021, we expanded our scope to manage the TV and print media campaigns as well. In both elections, we supported our coalition’s victory through online dominance.
He also listed the works he has done for his constituency, including the completion of over 250 MLA CDS projects, around ₹15 Crore of CSR funding, with an emphasis on children and other things.
PTR said that as the finance and human resource management minister, he tried his best to take a radically new path from the first day.
Listing his achievements, he said he delivered the best fiscal improvement in the history of Tamil Nadu, by making a massive revenue deficit reduction two years in a row, despite the Covid waves. He also listed his achievements as the Information Technology minister.
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PTR said that as a member of the GST Council, he attended meetings from May 2021 to February 2023 and ensured that Tamil Nadu’s and other states’ rights were safeguarded.
“My inputs in the GoM’s & the whole Council have been cited in landmark Court judgements on GST. I am grateful to the Hon. Union Minister for Finance, and my fellow State Ministers (including Chief Minister & Deputy Chief Ministers) for their friendship and support throughout my tenure, across all parties and regions of India,” he said.
He added that as the finance minister, he was able to fund several large infrastructure projects in Madurai, including the Goripalayam & Vandiyur fly-over bridges, the Vandiyur Park, and the Subramaniapuram 9-floor UHB Development to replace an old colony.
Further, he said that even though he has done a lot for his constituency, he accepts the election loss with humility.
“I am happy that I lost to the candidate who did not pay cash for votes or spread false propaganda and beat the candidate who paid 1,000 per vote by a hefty margin. We were sure to face the consequences of anti-incumbency at some point, and I accept the loss with humility. We need to reflect and improve. But I am proud that I stuck to my principle of not paying for votes, despite losing the election. And I am eternally grateful to the 44,286 voters who cast their vote for me, with no consideration other than my services rendered over the last decade. You justify my faith in principles. And in the final analysis, principles matter more to me than winning,” he wrote.
PTR further said that though TVK formed the government of Tamil Nadu, it is the government of all the people of the state, and therefore, wishes the new Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and his Cabinet, particularly Minister KA Senottaiyan, who holds the portfolio of Finance, a successful tenure.
