Udhayasuriyan T

T. Udhayasuriyan, 62, is a three-term DMK MLA currently representing Sankarapuram constituency in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. A graduate and agriculturist by declared profession, he has had a tumultuous political career spanning over three decades marked by both electoral successes and serious controversies. His political journey began with victory from Chinnasalem in 1989, but was immediately marred when the Madras High Court disqualified him for submitting fake or altered age proof certificates. He faced another disqualification in 2006 when contesting from Sankarapuram. Despite these setbacks, he successfully won from Sankarapuram in 1996, 2016, and 2021, demonstrating resilience and continued voter support within his constituency. Udhayasuriyan's assets have grown from Rs. 8.82 crores in 2021 to Rs. 10.72 crores in the current election, a 21.5% increase over the period, which appears consistent with normal asset appreciation for someone in his position. His liabilities have decreased from Rs. 1.61 crores to Rs. 96 lakhs, suggesting improved financial management. He declares one criminal case involving charges of unlawful assembly, disobedience to public servant orders, and wrongful restraint. Recently, Udhayasuriyan has faced significant public backlash after a video went viral showing him responding dismissively with 'Poda' (roughly 'get lost') to a constituent who questioned him about poor road conditions. The incident sparked widespread criticism of his conduct, with senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan revealing the constituent was a fellow party member, suggesting the matter should have been handled internally. This controversy has raised questions about his communication style and responsiveness to public concerns. Voters should note that while Udhayasuriyan has maintained electoral success and represents the ruling DMK party in the state, his track record includes serious past electoral misconduct involving document forgery that led to court-ordered disqualifications, and recent incidents suggesting a potentially dismissive attitude toward constituent concerns. His longevity in Sankarapuram politics suggests local support, but his controversial past and present behavior warrant scrutiny.