Ramajayam was de-facto minister

TIRUCHY: Popularly known as ‘MD,’ especially among DMK cadre, former minister K N Nehru’s brother Ramajayam was considered a de- facto minister from the district, who controlled the party machinery and district administration during the  previous DMK regime.The sobriquet ‘MD’ was derived from his official position as the managing director of the Janani Group of Companies, which deals with granite business and real estate. Though he did not hold any official post in the DMK, the MBA graduate reportedly held sway over the transport department  throughout the State and ‘controlled’ the administration activities in Tiruchy district.DMK functionaries, from the top to the lower ranks, revered Ramajayam, who is described as the brain behind the political and administrative activities of Nehru.Most of the party’s district functionaries were said to be handpicked by Ramajayam.There were charges of land grab and murder against him, besides allegations of ‘kattapanchayat’ and unfair practices in real estate business. He was arrested in land grab cases, but was granted bail.Ramajayam’s activities were said to have earned him foes both within and outside the party. Party workers, especially from poor economic backgrounds, who had sought his help in the past, described Ramajayam as a ‘kind man’.However, he is also perceived as one of the reasons behind Nehru’s loss in the 2011 Assembly elections.  After the 2011 elections, he started to concentrate his efforts on an educational institution run by the G Narayanan Educational Trust.  However, accusations were raised against the location of the CARE institutions run by the Trust.  It is alleged that the buildings were constructed on land encroached from the Dhayanur lake, a major water resource for farmers in the area.Though the farmers staged a series of agitations, no action was initiated, allegedly due to the political clout of ex-minister Nehru.