Pandi. N

Pandi N, 68, is a veteran CPI(M) politician and Chief Manager of Theekkathir, the party's Tamil newspaper. A 10th-pass educated social worker, he represents the traditional communist cadre base in Tamil Nadu's Palani constituency in Dindigul district. With assets of approximately Rs. 54 lakhs and working in party journalism, his financial profile aligns with the modest lifestyle typical of left-wing activists. However, his affidavit reveals 10 criminal cases involving charges such as unlawful assembly, rioting, wrongful restraint, and disobedience to public servant orders—charges often associated with political protests and demonstrations, though the accumulation raises questions about the nature and outcomes of these incidents. Electorally, Pandi has contested Palani twice without success. In 2016, he lost to DMK's I. P. Senthil Kumar by 25,586 votes, and in 2021, his margin of defeat widened to 30,056 votes against the same opponent. This increasing gap suggests challenges in expanding his voter base despite CPI(M)'s alliance with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance. The DMK's strong regional presence in Palani has consistently overshadowed CPI(M)'s electoral prospects in the constituency. For the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Pandi is again the CPI(M) candidate for Palani, though his party has expressed dissatisfaction with being allocated only five seats statewide by alliance leader DMK. CPI(M) State Secretary P. Shanmugam stated the party would continue in the alliance with the objective of defeating the BJP-AIADMK combine, despite reservations about seat allocation. Pandi's candidacy represents CPI(M)'s continued organizational presence in the region, even as electoral success remains elusive. Voters should know that Pandi brings ideological consistency and party dedication, reflected in his long association with Theekkathir newspaper and social work. However, his electoral track record shows difficulty in converting party loyalty into votes, and the 10 declared criminal cases—while potentially stemming from political activism—warrant scrutiny regarding their nature and resolution. His candidacy appears more about maintaining CPI(M)'s organizational footprint than posing a serious electoral challenge to the dominant DMK.