A. P. Nandakumar | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
| In office May 2016 –Present | |
| Preceded by | M. Kalai Arasu |
| Constituency | Anaikattu |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
A. P. Nandakumar is an Indian politician and a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. He currently serves as the Member of Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu representing the Anaikattu. He was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 2016,defeating the incumbent AIADMK candidate,and was re-elected in 2021 for a second consecutive term. Over the years,he has become known for his grassroots activism,consistent advocacy for inclusive governance,and his instrumental role in implementing large-scale development projects in Anaikattu. He has also served in key party leadership roles,including as the Vellore Central District Secretary of the DMK. [1] [2]
A. P. Nandakumar began his political journey with the DMK in the early 2000s. Demonstrating dedication and organizational skills,he rose through the ranks to become the Vellore Central District Secretary. In this role,he launched a large-scale membership drive aimed at enrolling 50,000 new party members in the Vellore district,thereby strengthening the DMK’s grassroots base.
In the 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election,Nandakumar contested from the Anaikattu constituency as a DMK candidate. He defeated the incumbent M. Kalai Arasu of the AIADMK by a margin of 8,768 votes.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMK | A. P. Nandakumar | 77,058 | 42.43% | New | |
| AIADMK | M. Kalai Arasu | 68,290 | 37.60% | New | |
| PMK | K. L. Elavazagan | 24,711 | 13.61% | −40.9 | |
| TMC(M) | P. S. Palani | 2,633 | 1.45% | New | |
| BJP | K. Vijayakumar | 1,750 | 0.96% | New | |
| NOTA | NOTA | 1,237 | 0.68% | New | |
| Margin of victory | 8,768 | 4.83% | −14.13% | ||
| Turnout | 181,622 | 78.31% | 0.25% | ||
| Registered electors | 231,928 | ||||
| DMK gain from PMK | Swing | -12.08% | |||
Nandakumar was re-elected in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, receiving 95,159 votes. He defeated AIADMK’s G. Velazhagan by a margin of 6,360 votes, thereby securing his second consecutive term as MLA.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMK | A. P. Nandakumar | 95,159 | 48.55% | +6.12 | |
| AIADMK | D. Velazhagan | 88,799 | 45.30% | +7.7 | |
| NTK | A. Sumithra | 8,125 | 4.15% | New | |
| NOTA | NOTA | 1,791 | 0.91% | +0.23 | |
| Independent | M. Senthil Kumar | 1,357 | 0.69% | New | |
| AMMK | V. D. Sathish Kumar | 1,140 | 0.58% | New | |
| Margin of victory | 6,360 | 3.24% | −1.58% | ||
| Turnout | 196,014 | 77.00% | −1.31% | ||
| Rejected ballots | 588 | 0.30% | |||
| Registered electors | 254,562 | ||||
| DMK hold | Swing | 6.12% | |||
As a legislator, Nandakumar has actively contributed to assembly debates, particularly on issues affecting his constituency. He raised concerns over:
During his second term, A. P. Nandakumar prioritized robust and inclusive development across the Anaikattu constituency, addressing critical sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, education, and housing. His tenure has been marked by multi-crore investments aimed at improving the quality of life for residents and modernizing public infrastructure.
To meet the region's growing healthcare demands, Nandakumar facilitated the establishment of a new government hospital in Anaikattu with an investment of ₹80 crore. A new Taluk Office complex was sanctioned at a cost of ₹30 crore, aiming to improve administrative efficiency. The public health system also saw the addition of new Primary Health Centres (PHCs) worth ₹22 crore and a modernization initiative for urban health centres funded with ₹3.4 crore. A new bus stand in Odugathur was developed with ₹1.65 crore, enhancing public transport facilities.
Agricultural sustainability received a significant boost under his leadership. ₹36.29 crore was allocated for the renovation of the Anaikattu Periya Eri (major tank), a key water resource. The Perumpallam Canal was desilted and revitalized with ₹29.25 crore to support irrigation. Flood mitigation efforts were rolled out at a cost of ₹20 crore, alongside ₹15 crore for check dams and water conservation systems, thereby enhancing agricultural resilience.
Improving rural connectivity was another major focus. Over ₹25 crore was invested in upgrading rural roads through NABARD and RIDF schemes. Six major inter-village roads were revamped with ₹13.35 crore, while ₹8.5 crore was used for building stormwater drains and culverts to enhance drainage and reduce waterlogging.
Recognizing the importance of youth development and education, Nandakumar led efforts to renovate and modernize government schools. A dedicated budget of ₹1.83 crore funded the construction of nine new classrooms and sanitation facilities. Investments were also made in building sports grounds, youth centres, and community halls to encourage extra-curricular engagement and leadership among young residents.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), 1,600 new houses were constructed, addressing the need for affordable housing. Additionally, Anaikattu achieved 100% household toilet coverage, marking a significant milestone in rural sanitation and public health.
In the realm of animal healthcare, ₹5 crore was spent to establish a new veterinary hospital. Anganwadi centres were upgraded and equipped with learning kits to enhance early childhood education. Plans were also initiated for setting up MSME training institutes and a TIDEL Park in the region to foster employment and industrial growth.
Looking ahead, Nandakumar has proposed several ambitious projects for the constituency:
Nandakumar is regarded for his transparent, inclusive governance style. His push for developmental planning with cross-party collaboration has earned him respect both within the DMK and among the constituents of Anaikattu.