Marimuthu. S

Marimuthu S., 45, is a construction contractor contesting from Gangavalli (SC) constituency in Tamil Nadu on a Puthiya Tamilagam ticket. With an 8th-grade education, he represents the grassroots profile typical of PT candidates. He has declared assets of Rs. 11.51 lakhs (all movable) with no immovable property or liabilities, and no criminal cases. Gangavalli constituency, formed in 2008 after delimitation and located 72 km from Salem, is primarily agricultural with farming as the main occupation including tapioca, corn, turmeric and paddy cultivation, and houses dozens of sago mills. The constituency has been an AIADMK stronghold, with the party winning in 2016 and 2021, making Marimuthu's electoral challenge steep. Marimuthu's party, Puthiya Tamilagam, was founded by K. Krishnasamy on December 15, 1997, primarily focusing on the Devendra Kula Vellalar community and advocating for social equity and inclusion. The party has oscillated between alliances with major parties (DMK, AIADMK) and independent contests throughout its history. Despite contesting hundreds of seats since 1998, PT has won only 2 Assembly seats in its entire history—both in 2011 when allied with AIADMK (Krishnasamy in Ottapidaram and A. Ramaswamy in Nilakkottai). In 2016, PT lost Ottapidaram by just 493 votes, and in 2021, it contested 55 Assembly seats independently but won none. For the 2026 Assembly elections, PT decided to contest independently in up to 70 seats after failing to secure favorable terms from AIADMK, a strategic gamble that could either establish the party's independent identity or further dilute its electoral prospects. As of 2026, PT remains unregistered with the Election Commission and holds no seats in any legislative body. The party's influence is primarily concentrated in southern Tamil Nadu districts where it can affect vote shares and potentially tilt close contests. Voters in Gangavalli should know that Marimuthu enters a constituency with entrenched AIADMK dominance and represents a party with limited electoral success but strong caste-based mobilization capabilities. With no previous legislative experience and competing against established parties, his candidacy represents a voice for the Devendra Kula Vellalar community but faces significant practical challenges in delivering constituency development without party infrastructure or proven governance experience.