Vanathi Srinivasan

Vanathi Srinivasan, 55, is a lawyer-turned-politician who has become one of BJP's most prominent faces in Tamil Nadu. Born on June 6, 1970, in Uliyampalayam, Coimbatore district, she completed her law degree from Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai, and a master's in law from the University of Madras. She has practiced law in the Madras High Court since 1993. Her political breakthrough came in 2021 when she defeated prominent actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan in Coimbatore South by a narrow margin of 1,728 votes, securing 34.38% of the vote share—a significant achievement for BJP in Tamil Nadu where the party has historically struggled. Vanathi's rise within the BJP has been steady since joining the party in 1993. She served as State Secretary (2013–2014) and General Secretary (2014–2020) of BJP Tamil Nadu, then as Vice President (2020) before her elevation to National President of the BJP Mahila Morcha in October 2020. She is also a member of the BJP's Central Election Committee since 2022, giving her a voice in candidate selection at the national level. Her journey has not been without electoral setbacks—she lost from Mylapore constituency in 2011 (4.84% votes) and from Coimbatore South in 2016 (21.57% votes) before her 2021 victory. However, her political career has faced controversies. During the 2016 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, AIADMK filed criminal cases of assault against her and six other BJP members during state assembly campaigns. The Madras High Court granted her anticipatory bail in August 2016. She also faced allegations of disproportionate assets during the 2016 elections, though she denied involvement in any wrongdoing. Currently, she is contesting from Coimbatore North in the 2026 elections, switching from her winning seat of Coimbatore South, and faces a triangular contest with DMK's Senthamil Selvan and TVK's V Sampathkumar. Voters should know that Vanathi represents BJP's attempt to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu, a state where the party has limited presence. With declared assets of Rs. 13.34 crore and liabilities of Rs. 3.90 crore, she is among the wealthier candidates. Her legal background, organizational experience within BJP, and her role as National Mahila Morcha President make her a significant political figure, though her ability to retain voter support in a new constituency against established parties remains to be tested.