Sunilanand

Sunilanand, 53, is a first-time candidate contesting from Mettupalayam constituency in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket. With a 10th standard education and describing himself as self-employed, he has declared assets worth Rs. 31.32 crores, including movable assets of Rs. 13.74 crores and immovable assets of Rs. 17.58 crores, along with liabilities of Rs. 2.95 crores. He has no criminal cases declared in his affidavit. Sunilanand is representing TVK, a newly formed political party founded by popular Tamil actor Vijay in February 2024. The party is making its electoral debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. TVK positions itself as a secular, social justice-oriented party drawing inspiration from Ambedkar, Periyar, and Marxist principles, while rejecting alliances with the BJP and positioning itself as an alternative to both the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK. The party has promised welfare schemes including monthly financial assistance for homemakers, unemployment aid, and technology-led governance reforms in its manifesto. However, TVK has faced significant challenges in its early days. The party was severely criticized following the tragic Karur crowd crush incident on September 27, 2025, during a rally that resulted in 41 deaths and around 100 injuries. FIRs were filed against TVK leaders, including general secretary N. Anand, for culpable homicide and insufficient crowd management. Party founder Vijay himself has disclosed two pending FIRs in his fresh affidavit related to alleged public disturbances during campaigning. Additionally, the party has been engaged in accusations of corruption against the ruling DMK, particularly regarding Tasmac liquor operations, while facing counter-allegations from DMK ministers about accepting black money. Voters in Mettupalayam should note that Sunilanand is an untested candidate with no prior electoral or political track record. While he benefits from association with Vijay's popularity and TVK's welfare-oriented manifesto, his substantial declared wealth raises questions given his educational background and profession. The constituency traditionally has been an AIADMK stronghold, with A. K. Selvaraj winning in 2021, making this a challenging debut for the new party and its candidate.