PTR considering to exit govt? A tweet with a riddle followed by a clarification

In a tweet that is sure to create a political storm, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), has said that his goal for the new year is to write a book that would be released after his exit from the government. This has given rise to speculation as to whether he is considering calling it quits, writes ETV Bharat M C Rajan.

Chennai: Beginning the new year with a riddle about his future plans, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, PTR for his admirers and party workers, on Monday created a flutter with a tweet, indicating that he might quit the government.

The intellectual face of the ruling DMK and an articulate as well as argumentative leader, he has set for himself a goal in the upcoming year. It is writing a book about the change he is driving and undergoing. On the release of the book, he said that it would be after 'exiting the government'. And this has created a buzz in the political circle about his leaving the government.

Turning philosophical, he tweeted, "A new year is a time to reflect on the inevitability of CHANGE”. Interestingly, along with photographs of the event, he posted a quote from celebrated Greek philosopher Heraclitus which read “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river, and he is not the same man.”

• "If a man knows not to which port he sails no wind is favorable." — Seneca

  — Daily Stoic (@dailystoic) January 1, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  "If a man knows not to which port he sails no wind is favorable." — Seneca

  — Daily Stoic (@dailystoic) January 1, 2023

  ">

  "If a man knows not to which port he sails no wind is favorable." — Seneca

  — Daily Stoic (@dailystoic) January 1, 2023

• My best wishes for a Joyful 2023
  
  A new year is a time to reflect on the inevitability of CHANGE: its value (past year's progress in ), and its promise (hopes for the New)
  
  My 2023 Goal: Start a book on the change I'm driving, and undergoing - to be released after exiting Govt😀 pic.twitter.com/UaVRqoxYLg

  — Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) January 2, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  My best wishes for a Joyful 2023
  
  A new year is a time to reflect on the inevitability of CHANGE: its value (past year's progress in ), and its promise (hopes for the New)
  
  My 2023 Goal: Start a book on the change I'm driving, and undergoing - to be released after exiting Govt😀 pic.twitter.com/UaVRqoxYLg

  — Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) January 2, 2023

  ">

  My best wishes for a Joyful 2023
  
  A new year is a time to reflect on the inevitability of CHANGE: its value (past year's progress in ), and its promise (hopes for the New)
  
  My 2023 Goal: Start a book on the change I'm driving, and undergoing - to be released after exiting Govt😀 pic.twitter.com/UaVRqoxYLg

  — Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) January 2, 2023

Later in a clarification, PTR apologised for the 'unintentional sequence of words' with a smiley. The contents of the book would be so candid that he could not simply release them till he was a minister and whatever year that might be, the finance minister explained. However, again turning philosophical, he said in the subsequent tweet that after all, every minister would remit office someday which keeps everyone guessing.

• Apologies for the concern caused to some by my unintentional sequence of words😀
  
  I meant the book's contents will be so candid that I simply CANNOT release it till I am no longer a Minister... WHATEVER year that may be
  
  (And EVERY Minister WILL Remit office Some Day after all) https://t.co/cDcFmwipL2

  — Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) January 2, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Apologies for the concern caused to some by my unintentional sequence of words😀
  
  I meant the book's contents will be so candid that I simply CANNOT release it till I am no longer a Minister... WHATEVER year that may be
  
  (And EVERY Minister WILL Remit office Some Day after all) https://t.co/cDcFmwipL2

  — Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) January 2, 2023

  ">

  Apologies for the concern caused to some by my unintentional sequence of words😀
  
  I meant the book's contents will be so candid that I simply CANNOT release it till I am no longer a Minister... WHATEVER year that may be
  
  (And EVERY Minister WILL Remit office Some Day after all) https://t.co/cDcFmwipL2

  — Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) January 2, 2023

Earlier, on new year's eve, participating in a programme in Madurai, Dr Thiaga Rajan said he doesn't need any identity other than that of being his father's son. “The late DMK general Secretary K Anbazhagan had been my mentor, guiding me during crisis situations. When invited to take the plunge into politics, he told me that 'son of PTR (also a former minister) will always be my identity.” His grandfather, PT Rajan who was with the Justice Party, too was a Chief Minister of Madras presidency for a brief period.

Whether it is taking on the Centre over the GST and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on pending dues for the state and financial allocation for states, he has won the admiration from a cross-section. The former investment banker is also seen as one who stands up to the Centre and in voicing the rights of states.

Earlier, he was stripped of being the DMK IT Wing chief on the pretext that he needs to reduce the burden on him so as to focus more on streamlining the state finances, left in a clumsy manner by the previous AIADMK government. PTR has also crossed swords with his senior cabinet colleagues like I Periyasamy, party veteran from Dindigul and AK Murthy of Madurai, his home turf, over the functioning of the ministries. There have been complaints about PTR pulling the purse strings in financial allocation. Now, the tweet has become a talking point in political circles.