V. Venu

V. Venu, 60, is a retired government employee contesting from Thiruvaiyaru on a Puthiya Tamilagam ticket. With 10th standard education and assets worth Rs. 1.09 crores (including liabilities of Rs. 35.58 lakhs), Venu represents a party that has historically struggled in this constituency. His affidavit declares one serious criminal case involving rioting with deadly weapons (IPC §147, §148) and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons (§324), charges that involve violence and armed confrontation. Puthiya Tamilagam, founded by Dr. K. Krishnasamy in 1997, focuses on representing marginalized communities, particularly the Devendra Kula Vellalars. The party has oscillated between alliances with DMK and AIADMK over the years, with its best performance in 2011 when it won 2 Assembly seats. However, in recent elections, the party has faced significant setbacks—losing all seats in 2016 and 2021. In Thiruvaiyaru specifically, PT's 2021 candidate G. Uthirapathi secured only 1,215 votes (0.58%), finishing far behind DMK's winner who received 103,210 votes (49.09%). Venu has no significant public presence or documented development work in available records. No news coverage, social media activity, or public statements could be found linking him to any specific initiatives or controversies beyond what's declared in his affidavit. This is his first documented electoral contest, with no previous election data available for comparison. Voters should know that Venu faces serious criminal charges involving violence and represents a party with historically minimal support in Thiruvaiyaru constituency. His campaign appears to be part of PT's broader strategy of contesting independently after years of struggling to secure favorable alliance terms with major Dravidian parties.