New minister
A career politician who has been representing the Dravida Munetra Kazagham (DMK) party since 1957, T R Balu is the new environment minister. He was earlier the minister of state for petroleum with independent charge in the United Front government of I K Gujral in 1997.
He takes the charge at a time when the new Lok Sabha has to clear crucial bills like the Biodiversity Act. His earlier stint as minister was controversial. He resigned from the council of ministers opposing the price hike of petroleum products which was proposed by the then finance minister P Chidambaram. Interestingly, as he was taking oath, the price of diesel was already hiked by 40 per cent. Known for his uncanny political preciseness, it remains to be seen as to what kind of priority he will give to environmental issues in the National Democratic Alliance's agenda.
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