Chelladurai. M

Chelladurai, 51, is a veteran politician from Krishnarayapuram (SC) constituency in Karur district, Tamil Nadu, who has remarkably won six consecutive assembly elections spanning 25 years. Starting his political career with the DMK in 1996, he has demonstrated exceptional electoral success but also notable political flexibility, having switched between the two Dravidian majors—DMK and AIADMK—multiple times throughout his career. In the 2021 election, he secured his strongest victory yet with 96,540 votes (53.72%), defeating the AIADMK candidate by over 31,000 votes. His earlier victories include the 2016 election where he won 83,977 votes (49.82%) on an AIADMK ticket, and the 2006 election with 58,394 votes (46.33%) on a DMK ticket. Despite this impressive electoral track record, Chelladurai is now contesting the 2026 elections as an Independent candidate, having left the DMK under whose banner he won in 2021. His affidavit declares assets of Rs. 1.33 crore with liabilities of Rs. 53 lacs, and lists his profession as 'Agriculture' rather than politics. However, there is a concerning lack of public information about his legislative work, development initiatives, or constituency service during his multiple terms as MLA. No media reports were found detailing specific schemes, projects, or governance achievements despite his 25-year political career. Chelladurai's pattern of party-switching is striking: he started with DMK (1996), moved to AIADMK (2001), returned to DMK (2006), switched back to AIADMK (2011-2016), rejoined DMK (2021), and is now running as Independent (2026). This frequent change in party allegiance—alternating between ideological rivals—raises questions about political consistency and ideological commitment. While his ability to win elections regardless of party affiliation demonstrates personal popularity, it may also suggest opportunistic political positioning. Voters in Krishnarayapuram should consider whether his independent candidacy represents genuine autonomy or reflects rejection by major parties, and evaluate what specific development work he has accomplished during his long tenure as their representative.