Eswarappan.M

J. L. Eswarappan is a 44-year-old DMK politician representing the Arcot constituency in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly since 2016. Despite declaring himself as an 'Auto Driver' and 'Illiterate' in his election affidavit, Eswarappan has held significant political positions including Arcot Municipality Chairman since 2006 and DMK Youth Wing District Secretary. His political journey reflects steady grassroots rise within the DMK, marked by consistent electoral victories in a competitive constituency. Eswarappan first won the Arcot seat in 2016 with 84,182 votes (41.39%), defeating the AIADMK candidate by over 11,000 votes. He strengthened his position in 2021, increasing his vote share to 50.06% with 103,885 votes, defeating PMK's K. L. Elavazagan. This improvement in electoral performance demonstrates growing acceptance among Arcot voters. He is contesting again in the upcoming 2026 elections as part of the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) led by DMK. However, his public profile reveals some concerns. There is no documented evidence in available sources of specific development projects, government schemes, or constituency work directly attributed to him despite nearly a decade as MLA. His declared assets of Rs. 18.06 lakhs appear modest for someone in public office since 2006, raising questions about financial transparency. Additionally, he maintains virtually no social media presence, limiting direct communication with constituents in an increasingly digital age. Voters in Arcot should note that while Eswarappan has demonstrated electoral strength and party loyalty, there is limited public documentation of his legislative work, development initiatives, or policy contributions. His clean record with zero criminal cases is positive, but the lack of transparent information about his activities as an MLA and the discrepancy between his declared profession and actual political career warrant closer scrutiny.