Sankar R

Sankar R, 34, is an agricultural worker and candidate for the Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) from Rishivandiyam constituency in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. Declaring himself as illiterate with assets of Rs. 8.5 lakhs (Rs. 1.5 lakhs movable and Rs. 7 lakhs immovable), Sankar represents the grassroots face of a regional party focused on Tamil identity and social justice. With no criminal cases and a modest asset base consistent with his agricultural background, he enters politics in a constituency that has historically seen battles between DMK, AIADMK, INC, and DMDK. The TVK, founded by T. Velmurugan in 2012 after splitting from Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), advocates for Vanniyar community welfare, caste census, and increased reservation quotas. The party was part of the DMK-led alliance until early 2026 when it exited over seat-sharing disputes, with Velmurugan criticizing the DMK's 'big brother attitude.' In the Rishivandiyam constituency, the 2021 elections saw DMK's M. Sundaram win with 50,071 votes (44.07%), defeating AIADMK's L. Athinarayanan who secured 44,949 votes (39.59%). The 2016 election was won by INC's S. Sivaraj with 54,793 votes, while the 2011 election saw DMDK founder Vijayakanth win decisively with 91,164 votes (53.19%). There are no publicly reported controversies, criminal cases, or corruption allegations involving Sankar. However, specific information about his political achievements, development work, or public statements is not available in major databases or media sources. The TVK's broader platform includes Tamil nationalist policies and anti-BJP rhetoric, but the party has not won legislative seats in recent elections, managing only 5-10% vote share in contested constituencies during 2021. Voters should note that while Sankar brings grassroots agricultural experience, his party remains an emerging force yet to demonstrate significant electoral success or legislative track record.