S. Muthusamy

S. Muthusamy, 77, is a veteran Tamil Nadu politician with a remarkable five-decade career that spans both Dravidian parties. Born on October 16, 1948, in Nedungulam, Salem district, he holds a postgraduate degree (M.A.) and is married to M. Jayalakshmi. His political journey began with the AIADMK, where he won consecutive elections from Erode constituency in 1977, 1980, and 1984, and from Bhavani in 1991. He rose to prominence as Transport Minister under Chief Minister MGR and later as Health Minister under Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, demonstrating significant administrative experience across critical portfolios. In 2010, Muthusamy made a dramatic party switch to the DMK after decades with AIADMK. This transition initially brought electoral challenges—he lost from Erode (West) in both 2011 and 2016. However, his political fortunes revived in 2021 when he won the Erode (West) seat with 100,757 votes (49.49% vote share), defeating his AIADMK opponent by a substantial margin of 22,089 votes. Following this victory, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin appointed him as Cabinet Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise in the DMK government. Muthusamy's current tenure as Excise Minister has been marked by controversy. The Enforcement Directorate has conducted raids related to alleged corruption in liquor transport, bar license grants, and unaccounted cash generated through collusion with bottle-making firms and distilleries. A broader ₹1000-crore TASMAC scam investigation has also put his ministry under scrutiny, though he has not been directly charged. Muthusamy has strongly defended himself, accusing the ED of harassment and claiming the investigations have 'ulterior political motives.' The Supreme Court has also criticized the ED for certain procedural aspects of these raids. Additionally, the Madras High Court has directed DVAC to register FIRs in a related cash-for-jobs scam involving the DMK government's Municipal Administration department. Voters should know that Muthusamy brings extensive governance experience but faces serious questions about corruption in his current ministry. His declaration of 'Agriculturist' as profession despite being a full-time politician and minister for decades raises transparency concerns. With assets of nearly ₹20 crore (60% held in HUF), zero declared liabilities, and zero criminal cases on his affidavit despite ongoing investigations, voters must weigh his administrative track record against the allegations surrounding his current tenure. He began his 2026 re-election campaign in March 2026, emphasizing the DMK government's achievements and promising to address constituent grievances.