Durugan. M

Durugan M., 58, is a graduate who works as a daily wage laborer (coolie) and is contesting from the Cheyyar constituency in Tamil Nadu on a Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) ticket. With declared assets of approximately Rs. 1.37 lakhs (Rs. 37,000 movable and Rs. 1 lakh immovable), no liabilities, and zero criminal cases, his profile reflects that of a working-class candidate entering electoral politics. His modest financial declaration is consistent with his stated profession as a daily wage worker. The Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, founded by Prakash Ambedkar in 2018, is primarily a Maharashtra-based political party that follows Phule-Ambedkarite ideology and advocates for Bahujan rights. The party has minimal documented presence or electoral history in Tamil Nadu, making Durugan's candidacy notable as an attempt to expand VBA's footprint into southern India. However, there is no available public record of his previous political activities, community work, or electoral history. Cheyyar constituency in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections saw DMK's O. Jothi defeat AIADMK's Dusi. K. Mohan by a margin of 12,271 votes, with no record of VBA participation in that election. No media coverage, social media presence, public statements, or development work could be found associated with Durugan's candidacy. This lack of information suggests either a first-time candidacy with minimal campaign infrastructure or limited media engagement in what may be a highly localized campaign effort by a working-class representative seeking to provide an alternative political voice in the constituency.