Venkataramanan. P

P. Venkataramanan, 48, is a post-graduate lawyer and the Treasurer of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a political party founded by actor-turned-politician Vijay in February 2024. As the party's chief financial officer, he has been responsible for financial management, organizational discipline, cadre training, and rally logistics mobilization. His most visible moment came in October 2024 when he administered the oath to thousands of party activists during TVK's first state conference in Vikravandi, establishing himself as a key figure in the party's organizational backbone. He contested his first assembly election from Mylapore constituency in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections, marking TVK's electoral debut. Venkataramanan has attempted to position himself as a progressive voice within the party. In April 2026, he publicly stated that 'anti-Brahminism is an outdated ideology,' calling for honesty in politics and a party that resonates with contemporary youth, women, and senior citizens. This statement marked an effort to differentiate TVK from traditional Dravidian politics centered on caste-based mobilization. His declared assets of ₹5.40 crore (including ₹3.22 crore movable and ₹2.18 crore immovable assets) appear consistent with his profession as a lawyer, with liabilities of ₹25.50 lakh and no criminal cases declared. However, TVK as an organization has faced serious controversies during its nascent phase. The most devastating was the Karur crowd crush on September 27, 2025, which killed 41 people and injured around 100 during a rally. The Tamil Nadu Police filed an FIR charging TVK organizers with culpable homicide, alleging deliberate delays, mismanagement, and overcrowding, with the party's Karur district secretary arrested as a prime suspect. While Venkataramanan was not personally implicated, the tragedy raised questions about TVK's organizational competence. The party has also engaged in political warfare with the ruling DMK, with Vijay accusing the government of a ₹1,000 crore Tasmac liquor scam, while DMK leaders countered by questioning Vijay's film industry finances. Voters in Mylapore should know that Venkataramanan represents a completely new political formation attempting to break the DMK-AIADMK duopoly. He brings no prior legislative experience but offers organizational expertise and a stated commitment to progressive values. The 2026 election results showed DMK's Dha. Velu winning Mylapore with 68,392 votes (44.95%) and AIADMK's R. Nataraj securing 55,759 votes (36.65%), with TVK as a new entrant. His candidacy is essentially a test of whether actor Vijay's popularity can translate into electoral success for a party that is ideologically still defining itself while managing serious organizational challenges.