Saravanan. G

V. G. Saravanan, 35, is a first-time electoral candidate contesting from Srivaikuntam constituency on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. With an 8th-grade education, Saravanan runs Saravana Traders and has declared assets worth Rs. 3.16 crore, including Rs. 2.54 crore in movable assets and Rs. 61 lakhs in immovable property. He also carries liabilities of Rs. 74 lakhs. His affidavit lists one criminal case (Crime No. 19/2026, Sathankulam Police Station), though details remain unclear. Saravanan is part of TVK's debut electoral venture, a party founded by actor Vijay in February 2024 that is contesting all 234 seats independently in Tamil Nadu. The party has positioned itself as a secular, socially just alternative and has released an ambitious manifesto promising Rs. 2,500 monthly aid for homemakers, 200 units of free electricity, and AI-driven governance reforms. TVK aims to transform Tamil Nadu into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036. However, the party faced a major setback when 41 people died in a crowd crush at a Karur rally in September 2025, with FIRs filed against senior party leaders for alleged negligence. Srivaikuntam presents a challenging battlefield for Saravanan. In the 2021 elections, Congress candidate Oorvasi S. Amirtharaj won the seat with 76,843 votes (46.75%), followed by AIADMK's S. P. Shunmuganathan with 36.18%. Saravanan faces both these incumbents again in 2026, along with NTK's Shanmuga Sundaram. Unlike TVK founder Vijay, who enjoys massive celebrity status and has drawn thousands to rallies across Tamil Nadu, Saravanan has no visible public profile, media coverage, or documented political experience. Voters should note that while Saravanan represents a new political alternative through TVK, he brings no proven track record in governance, social work, or political activism. His relatively high declared assets compared to his stated profession and education warrant scrutiny. With Congress holding the seat and TVK being completely untested electorally, Saravanan's candidacy represents both the promise of change and the uncertainty of inexperience in a competitive three-way contest.