Aadirajaram

Aadirajaram, 67, is a graduate professional working as an advocate and politician with assets worth ₹7.41 crore. He is the AIADMK candidate for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency, where he faces a tough four-way battle against DMK's Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, TVK's D. Selvam, and NTK's Ayisha Begum. Aadirajaram's electoral track record shows previous unsuccessful attempts from Thousand Lights in 2006 and Kolathur in 2021, both as an AIADMK candidate. His affidavit reveals 6 criminal cases against him, including 1 serious IPC charge. The charges span from rioting and unlawful assembly to voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons (IPC 324), assault on public servants (IPC 353), and rioting armed with deadly weapons (IPC 148). These cases reflect incidents involving public nuisance, wrongful restraint, and endangering public safety. The legal issues place him among the AIADMK candidates with criminal backgrounds—the party fielded 118 candidates with pending criminal cases in recent elections, with 60 having serious charges. Aadirajaram is positioning himself as an anti-incumbency candidate in the traditionally DMK-dominated urban Chennai constituency. His campaign focuses on claiming lack of development over the past five years, highlighting issues with drinking water supply, toilet facilities, and women's safety. The AIADMK's 2026 manifesto promises include the Kula Vilakku Scheme (₹2,000 monthly to female household heads), free concrete homes under the Amma Illam Scheme, free LPG cylinders, and extending free bus travel to men. However, he faces significant challenges—Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni remains a DMK stronghold, and Udhayanidhi Stalin's profile as Deputy CM and his development initiatives give him a considerable advantage. Voters should note that while Aadirajaram brings AIADMK's welfare promises and attempts to consolidate anti-DMK votes, his limited electoral success history, multiple criminal charges including serious offenses, and the constituency's strong DMK loyalty make this an uphill contest. Local civic issues—infrastructure, housing for the poor, and basic amenities—remain voter priorities that will likely determine the outcome beyond party affiliations.