Veeraiya. C

Veeraiya. C, a 57-year-old agriculturist with 12th-grade education, represents the Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi (TVMK) in Manachanallur constituency, Tamil Nadu. TVMK is a regional political party founded by T. Velmurugan that advocates for Tamil identity, culture, and political rights. The party often takes an independent stance, critiquing mainstream Dravidian parties while focusing on Tamil nationalism and regional autonomy. Web search results conflate Veeraiya with party founder T. Velmurugan, creating confusion about whether they are the same person, though affidavit details suggest they may be different individuals. In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, Veeraiya contested from Manachanallur and finished third with 14,443 votes (7.38% vote share), significantly behind the winning DMK candidate S. Kathiravan who secured 59.46%. TVMK contested independently without forming alliances with major political fronts. The party has been active in various protests and agitations, with reports indicating that TVMK cadres faced police cases in 2015 during protests against the Pepsi unit at SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre in Gangaikondan, though it's unclear if this directly involves the Manachanallur candidate. Veeraiya declares modest assets of Rs. 22.80 lakhs, comprising Rs. 12.80 lakhs in movable assets and Rs. 10 lakhs in immovable property, with no liabilities and no criminal cases on record. His affidavit lists agriculture as his profession. Recently, TVMK made headlines by exiting the DMK alliance in early 2026 due to dissatisfaction over seat allocation and unmet demands including a 10.5% quota for Vanniyars and a caste census, citing a 'big brother attitude' from the ruling coalition. This rupture represents TVMK's continued independent positioning in Tamil Nadu's complex political landscape. Voters in Manachanallur should note that while Veeraiya represents a party with clear ideological positions on Tamil identity, TVMK has yet to win a seat in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. His 2021 performance showed limited electoral traction in a constituency where DMK and AIADMK dominate. The lack of clarity about his relationship to party founder T. Velmurugan and minimal public information about his individual political work raises questions about his independent political profile and achievements beyond party affiliation.