Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | |
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Tamiḻnāṭu Mutalamaiccar | |
Chief Minister's Office | |
Style |
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Type | Head of government |
Status | Leader of the Executive |
Abbreviation | CMOTN |
Member of | |
Reports to | |
Residence | 25/9, Chittaranjan Salai, Cenotaph 2nd Lane, Alwarpettai, Chennai – 600018, Tamil Nadu, India. |
Seat | Office of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600009, Tamil Nadu, India. |
Appointer | Governor of Tamil Nadu |
Formation | 10 April 1952 |
First holder |
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Deputy | Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu |
Website | Official website |
The chief minister of Tamil Nadu is the chief executive of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In accordance with the Constitution of India, the governor is a state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the state's governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits. [2]
Since 1952, Tamil Nadu has had 12 chief ministers, 13 including V. R. Nedunchezhiyan, who twice acted in the role. The longest-serving chief minister, M. Karunanidhi from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam held the office for over eighteen years in multiple tenures, while he was the one who had the largest gap between two terms (nearly thirteen years). The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's former general secretary J. Jayalalithaa has the second-longest tenure, and its founder M. G. Ramachandran, the first actor to become the chief minister in India has the third-longest tenure, while his wife V. N. Janaki Ramachandran has the shortest tenure (only 23 days). K. Kamaraj resigned his post of his own free will and devoted all of his energy to the revitalization of the Indian National Congress party; he was responsible for the elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri to the position of Prime Minister of the Republic of India following the death of Jawaharlal Nehru and of Indira Gandhi following the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri. C. Rajagopalachari served as the first
Governor-General of the Union of India before becoming chief minister of undivided Madras State. There have been four instances of president's rule in Tamil Nadu, most recently in 1991. [3] [4]
The current incumbent is M. K. Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam since 7 May 2021.
The Madras Presidency, headquartered in Fort St. George, India, was a presidency of India that comprised present day Tamil Nadu, the Malabar region of North Kerala, the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, and the Bellary, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts of Karnataka. It was established in 1653 to be the headquarters of the English settlements on the Coromandel Coast.
The territory under the presidency comprised only Madrasapattinam and its surrounding regions. But, after the Anglo-French wars and the consequent alliance between the English East India Company and the Nawab of Arcot, it was expanded to comprise the region from the Northern Circars to Cape Comorin. The governance structure also evolved from a modest secretariat with a single secretary for the Public Department in 1670 to six departments overseen by a chief secretary by 1920.
The Indian Councils Act 1861 set up the Madras Legislative Council as an advisory body, without powers, through which the colonial administration obtained advice and assistance from able and willing Indian business leaders. But membership was selected (not elected) and was not representative of the masses.
With the enactment of the Government of India Act 1919, the first legislature was formed in 1920 after general elections. [5] The term of the legislative council was three years. It had 132 members, of whom 34 were nominated by the governor and the rest were elected. Under the Government of India Act 1935 , a bicameral legislature was set up with a legislative assembly consisting of 215 members and a legislative council having 56 members. The first legislative assembly under this act was constituted in July 1937. The legislative council was a permanent body, with a third of its members retiring every 3 years and having the power to decide on bills passed by the assembly. [6]
In 1939, the Governor-General of India declared India's entry into World War II without consulting the Imperial Legislative Council. The Indian National Congress protested by asking all its elected representatives to resign from governments. [7] Then it came back to power in 1946 after new provincial elections. [8]
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Chief ministers of the Madras Presidency | |||||||||||
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No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected constituency | Term of office [10] | Council (Election) | Ministry | Appointed by | Political party [a] | |||
Assumed office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||||
1 | A. Subbarayalu Reddiar (1855–1921) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 17 December 1920 | 11 July 1921 [RES] | 206 days | 1st (1920) | Reddiar | Frederic Thesiger | South Indian Liberal Federation | ||
2 | Panaganti Ramarayaningar (1866–1928) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 11 July 1921 | 11 September 1923 | 5 years, 145 days | Ramarayaningar I | Rufus Isaacs | ||||
12 September 1923 | 3 December 1926 | 2nd (1923) | Ramarayaningar II | ||||||||
3 | P. Subbarayan (1889–1962) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 4 December 1926 | 27 October 1930 | 3 years, 327 days | 3rd (1926) | Subbarayan | Edward Wood | Independent | ||
4 | B. Munuswamy Naidu (1885–1935) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 27 October 1930 | 4 November 1932 [RES] | 2 years, 8 days | 4th (1930) | Naidu | South Indian Liberal Federation | |||
5 | Ramakrishna Ranga Rao (1901–1978) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 5 November 1932 | 5 November 1934 | 3 years, 151 days | Rao I | Freeman Freeman-Thomas | ||||
5 November 1934 | 4 April 1936 [RES] | 5th (1934) | Rao II | ||||||||
6 | P. T. Rajan (1892–1974) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 4 April 1936 | 24 August 1936 [RES] | 142 days | Rajan | |||||
(5) | Ramakrishna Ranga Rao (1901–1978) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 24 August 1936 [§] | 1 April 1937 | 220 days | Rao III | Victor Hope | ||||
7 | Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (1875–1942) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 1 April 1937 | 14 July 1937 [RES] | 104 days | 1st (1937) | Naidu | Independent | |||
8 | C. Rajagopalachari (1878–1972) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 14 July 1937 | 29 October 1939 [RES] | 2 years, 107 days | Rajagopalachari I | Indian National Congress | ||||
– | Vacant ( Governor-General's rule ) | N/A | 29 October 1939 | 29 April 1946 | 6 years, 182 days | Dissolved | N/A | – | N/A | ||
9 | T. Prakasam (1872–1957) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 30 April 1946 | 23 March 1947 [RES] | 327 days | 2nd (1946) | Prakasam | Archibald Wavell | Indian National Congress | ||
10 | Omanthur P. Ramaswamy Reddiar (1895–1970) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 23 March 1947 | 6 April 1949 [RES] | 2 years, 14 days | Reddiar | Archibald Nye | ||||
11 | P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja (1898–1957) | Leader of the Presidency Legislative Council | 6 April 1949 | 25 January 1950 | 294 days | Raja | Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji |
Madras State, the precursor to the present-day state of Tamil Nadu, was created after India became a republic on 26 January 1950. [11] It comprised present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. The first legislature of the Madras State to be elected on the basis of universal suffrage was constituted on 1 March 1952, after the general elections held in January 1952. [12]
The state was split up along linguistic lines in 1953, carving out Andhra State. Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the states of Kerala, and Mysore State were carved out of Madras State. Under the Andhra Pradesh and Madras Alteration of Boundaries Act, 1959, with effect from 1 April 1960, Tiruttani taluk and Pallipattu sub-taluk of Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh were transferred to Madras in exchange for territories from the Chingelput and Salem districts. [5] [13]
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Chief ministers of Madras State | |||||||||||
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No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected constituency | Term of office [10] | Assembly (Election) | Ministry | Appointed by | Political party [a] | |||
Assumed office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||||
1 | P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja (1898–1957) | Leader of the State Legislative Council | 26 January 1950 | 9 April 1952 | 2 years, 74 days | 2nd (1946) | Raja | Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji | Indian National Congress | ||
2 | C. Rajagopalachari (1878–1972) | Leader of the State Legislative Council | 10 April 1952 | 13 April 1954 [RES] | 2 years, 3 days | 1st (1952) | Rajagopalachari II | Sri Prakasa | |||
3 | K. Kamaraj (1903–1975) | Gudiyatham | 13 April 1954 | 12 April 1957 | 9 years, 172 days | Kamaraj I | |||||
Sattur | 13 April 1957 | 14 March 1962 | 2nd (1957) | Kamaraj II | A. J. John | ||||||
15 March 1962 | 2 October 1963 [RES] | 3rd (1962) | Kamaraj III | Bishnu Ram Medhi | |||||||
4 | M. Bhakthavatsalam (1897–1987) | Sriperumbudur | 2 October 1963 | 5 March 1967 | 3 years, 154 days | Bhakthavatsalam | |||||
5 | C. N. Annadurai (1909–1969) | Leader of the State Legislative Council | 6 March 1967 | 13 January 1969 | 1 year, 313 days | 4th (1967) | Annadurai | Ujjal Singh | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
During the term of the fourth assembly on 18 July 1967, the house unanimously adopted and recommended that steps be taken by the state government to secure the necessary amendment to the Constitution of India to change the name of Madras State to Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, the Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 (Central Act 53 of 1968) was passed by the Parliament of India and came into force on 14 January 1969. [14] Consequently, the nomenclature "Madras Legislative Assembly" was changed to "Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly". From 1967 onward, the strength of the assembly continued to remain at 234 plus a nominated member.
From 1952 to 1986, the state had a parliamentary system of government with two democratically elected houses, the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. On 14 May 1986, the state government passed a resolution to abolish the legislative council in the state, which was then moved and adopted by the house. On 1 November 1986, Tamil Nadu became a state with a unicameral legislature, and since then, several times, the state government has taken steps to reconstitute the legislative council, but they have failed for so long. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Council has not been constituted in the state till date.
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Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu | |||||||||||
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No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected constituency | Term of office [10] | Assembly (Election) | Ministry | Appointed by | Political party [a] | |||
Assumed office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||||
1 | C. N. Annadurai (1909–1969) | Leader of the State Legislative Council | 14 January 1969 | 3 February 1969 [†] | 20 days | 4th (1967) | Annadurai | Ujjal Singh | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||
Acting | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (1920–2000) | Triplicane | 3 February 1969 | 10 February 1969 [RES] | 7 days | Nedunchezhiyan I | |||||
2 | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | Saidapet | 10 February 1969 | 14 March 1971 | 6 years, 355 days | Karunanidhi I | |||||
15 March 1971 | 31 January 1976 | 5th (1971) | Karunanidhi II | ||||||||
– | Vacant ( President's rule ) | N/A | 31 January 1976 | 29 June 1977 | 1 year, 149 days | Dissolved | N/A | – | N/A | ||
3 | M. G. Ramachandran (1917–1987) | Aruppukottai | 30 June 1977 | 17 February 1980 | 2 years, 232 days | 6th (1977) | Ramachandran I | Prabhudas B. Patwari | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||
– | Vacant ( President's rule ) | N/A | 17 February 1980 | 8 June 1980 | 112 days | Dissolved | N/A | – | N/A | ||
(3) | M. G. Ramachandran (1917–1987) | Madurai West | 9 June 1980 [§] | 9 February 1985 | 7 years, 198 days | 7th (1980) | Ramachandran II | Prabhudas B. Patwari | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||
Andipatti | 10 February 1985 | 24 December 1987 [†] | 8th (1984) | Ramachandran III | S. L. Khurana | ||||||
Acting | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (1920–2000) | Athoor | 24 December 1987 | 7 January 1988 [RES] | 14 days | Nedunchezhiyan II | |||||
4 | V. N. Janaki Ramachandran (1923–1996) | did not contest | 7 January 1988 | 30 January 1988 | 23 days | Janaki | |||||
– | Vacant ( President's rule ) | N/A | 30 January 1988 | 26 January 1989 | 362 days | Dissolved | N/A | – | N/A | ||
(2) | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | Harbour | 27 January 1989 [§] | 30 January 1991 | 2 years, 3 days | 9th (1989) | Karunanidhi III | P. C. Alexander | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||
– | Vacant ( President's rule ) | N/A | 30 January 1991 | 23 June 1991 | 144 days | Dissolved | N/A | – | N/A | ||
5 | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | Bargur | 24 June 1991 | 12 May 1996 | 4 years, 323 days | 10th (1991) | Jayalalithaa I | Bhishma Narain Singh | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||
(2) | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | Chepauk | 13 May 1996 [§] | 13 May 2001 | 5 years | 11th (1996) | Karunanidhi IV | Marri Chenna Reddy | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||
(5) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | did not contest | 14 May 2001 [§] | 21 September 2001 [RES] | 130 days | 12th (2001) | Jayalalithaa II | Fathima Beevi | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||
6 | O. Panneerselvam (1951–) | Periyakulam | 21 September 2001 | 2 March 2002 [RES] | 162 days | Panneerselvam I | C. Rangarajan | ||||
(5) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | Andipatti | 2 March 2002 [§] | 12 May 2006 | 4 years, 71 days | Jayalalithaa III | P. S. Ramamohan Rao | ||||
(2) | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | Chepauk | 13 May 2006 [§] | 15 May 2011 | 5 years, 2 days | 13th (2006) | Karunanidhi V | Surjit Singh Barnala | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||
(5) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | Srirangam | 16 May 2011 [§] | 27 September 2014 | 3 years, 134 days | 14th (2011) | Jayalalithaa IV | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | |||
(6) | O. Panneerselvam (1951–) | Bodinayakanur | 28 September 2014 [§] | 23 May 2015 [RES] | 237 days | Panneerselvam II | Konijeti Rosaiah | ||||
(5) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar | 23 May 2015 [§] | 22 May 2016 | 1 year, 196 days | Jayalalithaa V | |||||
23 May 2016 | 5 December 2016 [†] | 15th (2016) | Jayalalithaa VI | ||||||||
(6) | O. Panneerselvam (1951–) | Bodinayakanur | 6 December 2016 [§] | 15 February 2017 [RES] | 72 days | Panneerselvam III | C. Vidyasagar Rao | ||||
7 | Edappadi K. Palaniswami (1954–) | Edappadi | 16 February 2017 | 6 May 2021 | 4 years, 79 days | Palaniswami | |||||
8 | M. K. Stalin (1953–) | Kolathur | 7 May 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 225 days | 16th (2021) | Stalin | Banwarilal Purohit | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
No. | Name | Party | Length of term | ||
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Longest continuous term | Total years of chief ministership | ||||
1 | M. Karunanidhi | DMK | 6 years, 355 days | 18 years, 360 days | |
2 | J. Jayalalithaa | AIADMK | 4 years, 323 days | 14 years, 124 days | |
3 | M. G. Ramachandran | AIADMK | 7 years, 198 days | 10 years, 65 days | |
4 | K. Kamaraj | INC | 9 years, 172 days | 9 years, 172 days | |
5 | Edappadi K. Palaniswami | AIADMK | 4 years, 79 days | 4 years, 79 days | |
6 | M. K. Stalin | DMK | 3 years, 225 days | 3 years, 225 days | |
7 | M. Bhakthavatsalam | INC | 3 years, 154 days | 3 years, 154 days | |
8 | P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja | INC | 2 years, 74 days | 2 years, 74 days | |
9 | C. Rajagopalachari | INC | 2 years, 3 days | 2 years, 3 days | |
10 | C. N. Annadurai | DMK | 1 year, 334 days | 1 year, 334 days | |
11 | O. Panneerselvam | AIADMK | 237 days | 1 year, 106 days | |
12 | V. N. Janaki Ramachandran | AIADMK | 23 days | 23 days | |
Acting | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan | AIADMK/DMK | 14 days | 21 days |
No. | Political party | Number of chief ministers | Total days of holding CMO |
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1 | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 5 (+1 acting) | 11004 days |
2 | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 3 (+1 acting) | 8961 days |
3 | Indian National Congress | 4 | 6247 days |
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is an Indian regional political party with great influence in the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry. It is a Dravidian party founded by the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R.) at Madurai on 17 October 1972 as a breakaway faction from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after M. Karunanidhi expelled him from the party for demanding an account as the party treasurer. The party is adhering to the policies of socialism and secularism based on the principles of C. N. Annadurai (Anna) collectively coined as Annaism by M.G.R. The party has won a seven-time majority in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and has emerged as the most successful political outfit in the state's history. It is currently the main opposition party in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is an Indian political party based in the state of Tamil Nadu, where it is currently the ruling party, and the union territory of Puducherry, where it is currently the main opposition.
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council was the upper house of the former bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British colonial government. It was established by the Indian Councils Act 1861, enacted in the British parliament in the aftermath of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Its role and strength were later expanded by the second Council Act of 1892. Limited election was introduced in 1909. The Council became a unicameral legislative body in 1921 and eventually the upper chamber of a bicameral legislature in 1937. After India became independent in 1947, it continued to be the upper chamber of the legislature of Madras State, one of the successor states to the Madras Presidency. It was renamed as the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council when the state was renamed as Tamil Nadu in 1969. The Council was abolished by the M. G. Ramachandran administration on 1 November 1986. In 1989, 1996 and 2010, the DMK regime headed by M. Karunanidhi tried to revive the Council. The former AIADMK regime (2016-2021) expressed its intention not to revive the council and passed a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in this regard.
Politics of Tamil Nadu is the politics related to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The eighth legislative assembly election for Tamil Nadu was held on 24 December 1984. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won the election and its general secretary, incumbent M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R) was sworn in as Chief Minister, for the third time. The election victory was mainly attributed to the sympathy wave created by Indira Gandhi's assassination and M.G.R's illness coupled with Rajiv Gandhi's popularity. This is the last election M.G.R contested as he died in office in 1987. This is also the only General Election which M. Karunanidhi did not contest since 1957 until his death. As now, this is the last election where the ruling party gained seats.
The sixth legislative assembly election of Tamil Nadu was held on 10 June 1977. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won the election, defeating its rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). M. G. Ramachandran, the AIADMK founder and a prominent Tamil film actor, was sworn in as Chief Minister for the first time. The election was a four-cornered contest among the AIADMK, DMK, the Indian National Congress (INC), and the Janata Party.
The first legislative assembly Election to the Madras state based on universal adult suffrage was held in 27 March 1952. This was the first election held in Madras state after the Indian Independence. This election was officially known as the 1951 Madras State Election, even though through delays, actual voting didn't take place until early 1952.
The second legislative assembly election to the Madras state was held on 31 March 1957. This was the first election held after the linguistic reorganisation of Madras State in 1956. Indian National Congress and its leader, K. Kamaraj won the election and defeated their rival, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. In 1954, due to the resignation of C. Rajagopalachari, for his controversial Kula Kalvi Thittam, the leadership of Congress was contested between K. Kamaraj, and C. Subramaniam. Eventually, K. Kamaraj, won the support of the party, was elected leader and chief minister of Madras State in 1954. In a surprise move, he appointed both M. Bhaktavatsalam and C. Subramaniam, to his cabinet, allowing great unity amongst the Congress that ruled the state of Madras, for the next decade. This election saw future DMK leaders M. Karunanidhi and K. Anbazhagan win their first MLA seats in the legislative assembly.
The third legislative assembly election to the Madras state was held on 21 February 1962. The Indian National Congress party, led by K. Kamaraj, won the election. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam made significant in-roads in the election and emerged as the second party for the first time by winning 50 seats. 1962 Election remains the most recent election in which Indian National Congress to form a majority Government in the State as its support was heavily declined due to rise of Dravidian political parties.
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a strength of 234 members, all of whom are democratically elected using the first-past-the-post system. The presiding officer of the Assembly is the Speaker. The term of the Assembly is five years, unless dissolved earlier.
S. Natarajan Udayar was an Indian politician and 3 time DMK MLA from Thanjavur Constituency. A close friend and supporter of Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy, he was an early member of Dravidar Kazhagam. His association with Aringar C N Annadurai made him part ways with E.V.R. politically and join Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as one of the earliest and founding members of DMK.
Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami, often referred to by his initials E.P.S., is an Indian politician who is the current leader of opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He served as the 7th chief minister of Tamil Nadu, from 2017 to 2021. He has been the General Secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) since 28 March 2023. Previously, Palaniswami has served as the interim general secretary (2022–23), joint co-ordinator (2017–22) and headquarters secretary (2016–22) of AIADMK.
Kaveripattinam Poongavanam Munusamy is an Indian politician and deputy general secretary of AIADMK and incumbent member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Krishnagiri Constituency. Munusamy completed his Bachelor of Arts from Govt. Arts College, Krishnagiri during 1971-1974 and later graduated Bachelor of Law from Government Law College, Chennai. He was a Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development in the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Arasu Kazhagam was an Indian political party founded by M. P. Sivagnanam in Tamil Nadu. It was established as an association in 1946. Its goals were to pressurize the Indian National Congress Government of the Madras Presidency to increase the use of Tamil in administration and education, to create an autonomous Tamil state out of a composite Madras Presidency and to soften the pro-Hindi stance of the Congress. The association was allied with the Congress during 1946–54 and worked against the Dravidian Movement. However, it grew closer to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over time. During 1946–54, Sivagnanam was a member of the Congress. He left the Congress in 1954 and turned the Tamil Arasu Kazhagam into an independent political party. During 1957–60, it was involved in various protests over the drawing of state boundaries when Andhra Pradesh split from the composite Madras State. It eventually became a part of DMK's electoral alliance in the 1967 assembly elections. It was also involved in the movements to change the name of the state from Madras State to Tamil Nadu and to promote the use of Tamil over Sanskrit for conducting Archanai in Hindu temples. In the 1967 elections, two candidates of the party were elected to the assembly contesting under DMK's "Rising Sun" Symbol. The party was also an DMK ally in the 1971 assembly elections. In 1972, it opposed the DMK chief minister M. Karunanidhi's decision to scrap prohibition laws and switched its allegiance to DMK's splinter group – the M. G. Ramachandran led Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK). The party did not directly contest in elections after 1971 and Sivagnanam was nominated to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council in 1972. He remained as the member of the legislative council till its disbandment in 1986. The party stopped functioning after Sivagnanam's death in 1995.
The list of political families of Tamil Nadu state in India.
By-elections to eighteen state assembly constituencies were held in Tamil Nadu on 18 April 2019 together with 2019 Indian general election. It was considered to be mini-assembly election battle for the power in Tamil Nadu. The ruling government had to prove its majority while the opposition was trying hard to get maximum seats. There were 22 seats vacant in the Tamil Nadu assembly, By-election took place in two phases and in the first phase for 18 assembly constituencies together with Lok Sabha general election on 18 April 2019 in the state. Remaining 4 assembly constituencies election was held on 19 May. The counting of votes was conducted on 23 May, and on the same day the results were announced. Then the by-elections for 2 seats Vikravandi and Nanguneri were conducted on 21 October 2019