T.Arulmurugan

T. Arulmurugan, 37, is an independent candidate contesting from the Peravurani constituency in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu for the 2026 Assembly elections. A graduate by education, he runs Matha Medicals in Punalvasal, working in the pharmaceutical retail sector. His declared assets stand at approximately Rs. 10.41 lakhs (Rs. 41,500 in movable assets and Rs. 10 lakhs in immovable assets), with liabilities of Rs. 6.6 lakhs, indicating he is operating with net assets of around Rs. 3.81 lakhs. He has declared no criminal cases against him. As an independent candidate, Arulmurugan faces a historically difficult path to victory. Tamil Nadu has not elected an independent MLA since 2006, with the state's electoral landscape dominated by Dravidian parties DMK and AIADMK. In Peravurani specifically, he will be competing against DMK's incumbent N. Ashokkumar, who won the seat in 2021 and has been renominated by the ruling party for 2026. The most striking aspect of Arulmurugan's candidacy is the complete absence of any public profile, media coverage, or digital presence. No news articles, social media accounts, community initiatives, or public statements by or about him could be located through comprehensive searches of Tamil Nadu media outlets. This lack of visibility is unusual even for first-time independent candidates and raises questions about his campaign strategy, grassroots support, and ability to connect with voters. For voters in Peravurani, Arulmurugan represents an unknown quantity - a medical shop owner entering politics without an established track record in public service, community work, or political activism. His modest financial profile suggests he is not a wealthy businessman entering politics, but rather a small business owner. With no documented history of development work, party affiliation, or public engagement, voters have little information on which to base their assessment of his suitability as their representative.