Venkatachalam. G

G. Venkatachalam, 61, is an AIADMK candidate contesting from the Mettur Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu for the 2026 elections. With an 8th standard education, he identifies his profession as deriving income from former MLA pension and rental properties. He has declared total assets of approximately Rs. 3.50 crores, comprising Rs. 1.86 crores in movable assets and Rs. 1.65 crores in immovable properties, along with liabilities of approximately Rs. 30 lakhs. Venkatachalam's candidacy comes with legal challenges, as his affidavit declares 5 criminal cases against him, including one serious IPC charge. The charges include illegal payments in connection with elections (Section 171H), being a member of unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint, and offenses related to public nuisance and spreading infection. These legal cases raise questions about his conduct that voters may wish to consider. The Mettur constituency has historically been a competitive battleground, with frequent shifts between AIADMK, DMK, PMK, and DMDK. In 2021, PMK's S. Sadhasivam won by a narrow 0.30% margin against DMK. In 2016, AIADMK's S. Semmalai secured victory with a 3.03% margin. For 2026, Venkatachalam faces DMK's Mithun Chakravarthy in what is expected to be another closely contested race. Despite being an AIADMK candidate with former MLA pension suggesting previous legislative experience, web searches revealed virtually no public information about Venkatachalam's political activities, achievements, social media presence, or recent statements. This limited visibility suggests he may not currently be a prominent figure in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. Voters have access to minimal information about his track record, policy positions, or contributions to public service, making it challenging to assess his suitability beyond the official affidavit data.