Duraimurugan

Durai Murugan, 87, is one of Tamil Nadu's most enduring political figures, having served in the state legislature for over five decades. Born on July 1, 1938, in Gudiyatham, Vellore District, he is a lawyer by training (MA, BL) and a close confidant of both former DMK leader M. Karunanidhi and current chief minister M.K. Stalin. He has held key party positions including Treasurer, Principal Secretary, and Deputy General Secretary before becoming DMK General Secretary on September 9, 2020. Since 2021, he has served as Water Resources Minister and Leader of the House in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. His electoral record is formidable: first elected to the Assembly in 1971 from Katpadi, he has won 10 out of 12 elections, losing only in 1984 and 1991 during AIADMK's dominance. His victories have ranged from landslides — like 1996 when he won by 41,007 votes — to razor-thin margins, including his most recent 2021 victory by just 746 votes. He is seeking his 11th win from Katpadi in 2026, which would be his 13th entry into the state legislature. His long tenure reflects both his political acumen and deep roots in the constituency. However, serious controversies cloud his legacy. The Madras High Court in 2024 quashed a trial court's discharge order and directed that he and his family face trial for allegedly amassing assets worth Rs 3.92 crore disproportionate to their known income during his tenure as Public Works Minister from 1996 to 2001. The Supreme Court has stayed the trial proceedings pending his appeal. He was also implicated when police filed cases related to a Rs 11.48 crore cash seizure linked to DMK's Vellore candidate in 2021, and allegations surfaced that the DMK tried to shield him from an Income Tax probe into DMK Trust accounts. His affidavit shows assets ballooning from Rs 30.81 crore in 2021 to Rs 74.18 crore in 2026 — a 141% increase in five years — raising questions about the source of this wealth. Voters in Katpadi face a choice between a seasoned administrator with half a century of political experience and institutional knowledge, versus a leader facing serious corruption allegations and questions about asset accumulation. His narrow 2021 victory suggests the constituency is closely divided. Critics also point out that he primarily resides in Chennai, with allegations of insufficient attention to local needs. At 87, questions about succession and constituency representation add another dimension to the 2026 election.