Malathi K

Malathi K is a 46-year-old politician representing the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) in the Kallakurichi (SC) reserved constituency of Tamil Nadu. She serves as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) after winning the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with 110,643 votes (49.26%), defeating her AIADMK rival by a margin of 21,291 votes. This victory marked a dramatic turnaround from her 2016 attempt when she secured only 17,492 votes (8.18%) and lost to the AIADMK candidate. The VCK is a regional party focused on Dalit rights and social justice, functioning as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance. Malathi's constituency has witnessed significant controversies during her tenure. In 2022, Kallakurichi erupted in riots following a Dalit girl's suicide at a school, with a VCK district secretary allegedly involved in spreading false news that instigated the violence. The Madras High Court ordered a complete investigation within four months. More recently, in June 2024, a methanol poisoning incident claimed over 60 lives in what became known as the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. The Supreme Court dismissed Tamil Nadu's plea against a CBI probe, with the Madras High Court citing the need for 'fair and impartial investigation' due to perceived lapses by state police. There are notable discrepancies in publicly available information about Malathi. Her current affidavit declares her profession as 'Lawyer' with a Doctorate degree and assets worth ₹6.5 crore, but earlier sources including MyNeta profile described her as 'head of household' with 12th pass education and assets of only ₹3.4 lakh. These inconsistencies regarding education, profession, and the dramatic asset growth raise questions that merit clarification. Voters should note that while Malathi represents a party committed to Dalit welfare and social justice, her constituency has faced major law and order challenges and public health tragedies. Her individual contributions to development and governance remain poorly documented in public sources, with limited media coverage of her specific legislative work or constituency initiatives.