Rajanchellappa. V.V.

V.V. Rajan Chellappa, 75, is a veteran politician representing Thiruparankundram constituency in Tamil Nadu's Legislative Assembly since May 2021. Born on August 16, 1949, in Madurai, he has had a long and eventful political career spanning over four decades. His journey began with the Indian National Congress (J), where he contested the 1980 assembly elections from Thiruparankundram but lost. He later switched to AIADMK, a move that defined his political trajectory, serving as Rajya Sabha MP from 1992 to 1998 and as Mayor of Madurai Corporation, strengthening his grassroots political base. In recent electoral battles, Rajanchellappa has shown resilience. After losing the 2019 by-election to DMK's P. Saravanan by just 2,396 votes, he bounced back strongly in 2021, winning with a comfortable margin of 29,489 votes against CPI(M)'s S.K. Ponnuthai. His assets declared at over 12 crores include substantial movable and immovable properties, though his affidavit lists his profession as 'Agriculture' despite his extensive political career. He faces one criminal case involving charges under sections 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 292 (public nuisance), and 126 (wrongful restraint). However, Rajanchellappa's political standing faces challenges. His public statement calling for 'single leadership' in AIADMK and criticizing party structures was interpreted as targeting party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami, creating internal friction. Recent opinion polls project AIADMK winning only 38-52 seats statewide in 2026 compared to DMK's projected 181-189 seats, with new entrant TVK also contesting in Thiruparankundram. Despite these headwinds, he remains active in criticizing the DMK government over administrative issues and electoral processes. Voters should know that Rajanchellappa brings decades of political experience and local leadership to Thiruparankundram, having served at multiple levels of government. However, questions about his declared agricultural profession versus political career, internal party controversies, and AIADMK's declining statewide prospects are factors to consider. His stance on avoiding religious controversies while focusing on welfare schemes suggests a pragmatic approach, but his ability to deliver will depend on his party's overall performance and unity.