Anbalagan. K.P.

Kariamangalam Pachiappan Anbalagan, 67, is a five-term MLA from Palacode constituency and one of the longest-serving legislators in the current Tamil Nadu Assembly. Born on April 30, 1958, in Dharmapuri, he joined AIADMK in 1996 and first won election in 2001 with a commanding 62.38% vote share. He has held significant ministerial portfolios including Higher Education (2016-2021), Municipal Administration & Rural Development (2009-2011), and Agriculture. Despite his long political career, his legacy is severely tarnished by serious corruption allegations that emerged after the DMK came to power in 2021. In 2021, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) filed charge-sheets against Anbalagan, his wife Mallika, and sons Sasi Mohan and Chandra Mohan for allegedly accumulating ₹45.2 crore in disproportionate assets during his tenure as Higher Education Minister. Official records show his assets skyrocketed from ₹1.60 crore in 2016 to ₹23.03 crore in 2021 — a 1,339% increase in just five years. His current affidavit declares assets worth ₹47.12 crore, including ₹38.99 crore in movable assets and liabilities of ₹9.55 crore. The case is ongoing in Dharmapuri and Pudukkottai courts, marking one of the first major corruption actions against AIADMK ministers under the DMK government. Despite winning the 2021 election with 53.63% vote share and a margin of 28,100 votes, Anbalagan faces mounting criticism over constituency development. Opposition leaders have accused him of failing to implement basic infrastructure like water management schemes despite representing Palacode for 25 years and serving as a minister twice. He belongs to the Vanniyar community and was appointed Secretary of Dharmapuri District by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in 2016. In June 2020, reports suggested he tested positive for COVID-19, though then-Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami denied the claims. Voters should weigh Anbalagan's extensive political experience and ministerial roles against serious corruption allegations involving massive asset growth and ongoing legal proceedings. His affidavit declares 2 criminal cases with charges including criminal conspiracy, abetment, and unlawful assembly, though the DVAC corruption case raises questions about complete disclosure. With over two decades representing Palacode, his record shows electoral resilience but significant questions about financial propriety and development delivery remain unanswered.