N.S.Karunairaaja

N.S. Karunairaaja is a 51-year-old DMK politician from Musiri constituency in Tamil Nadu who has contested two consecutive Assembly elections without success. A graduate professional who declares no current profession, he has assets worth ₹5.91 crore and liabilities of ₹60.67 lakhs. His political journey has been marked by consistent electoral defeats—in 2016, he secured only 26.73% votes against AIADMK's M. Selvarasu who won with 52.31%, and in 2021, his vote share marginally improved to 25.41% while Selvarasu won with 35.50%. Despite two unsuccessful attempts, the DMK has fielded him again for the 2026 elections, indicating party confidence in his grassroots work. Karunairaaja operates within a complex political environment where the parent DMK party faces both opportunities and challenges. While opinion polls project DMK to win between 181-189 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections and describe it as the 'most trusted' party, the government has been embroiled in serious corruption allegations. Central leaders including Rajnath Singh and PM Narendra Modi have accused the DMK government of widespread corruption, specifically citing an alleged Rs 888 crore cash-for-jobs scam in the Municipal Administration department and a Rs 1000 crore TASMAC scam under ED investigation. Opposition parties have also raised concerns about deteriorating law and order. On the development front, Karunairaaja's party has implemented several significant schemes that could benefit his constituency. The DMK government launched the Dhan-Dhaanya Scheme aimed at improving agricultural productivity for approximately 1.7 crore farmers, focusing on crop diversification and irrigation infrastructure. The party has historically championed social welfare policies including increased reservations for backward classes, self-respect marriages, and housing programs for underprivileged groups. These welfare initiatives form part of the DMK's traditional social justice platform that could resonate with Musiri's electorate. Voters in Musiri face a choice between an incumbent AIADMK representative who has won twice and a persistent DMK challenger backed by a party projected to form the government but facing corruption allegations. Karunairaaja's lack of a declared profession despite substantial assets, combined with no electoral victories or prominent party positions, raises questions about his political base and effectiveness. However, his repeated candidature suggests sustained party support and possibly strong local organizational work that may not be reflected in previous vote shares. The constituency's decision will likely be influenced by both local factors and the broader state-level political wave.