Murugan, J.

J. Murugan, 54, is a businessman-turned-politician contesting from Tiruchendur constituency in Tamil Nadu's 2026 Assembly elections on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket. A graduate professional, Murugan has built a construction and building materials business empire as Managing Director of JKR Builders Private Ltd and Managing Partner of JKR Engineering Builders and JKR Building Materials. His declared assets of ₹10.87 crores (₹5.74 crores movable, ₹5.14 crores immovable) with liabilities of ₹1.51 crores reflect his business background. Murugan is making his electoral debut with TVK, the party founded by actor Vijay on February 2, 2024, which is contesting all 234 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections without alliances. The party positions itself on principles of social justice, secularism, and egalitarianism, drawing inspiration from Ambedkar, Periyar, and Kamaraj. TVK has made ambitious promises including a ₹15,000 crore fund for MSMEs, free electricity for small businesses, and welfare schemes for weavers and marginalized communities. However, Murugan's candidacy comes with legal baggage - his affidavit declares one criminal case with charges under Section 189 (unlawful assembly) and Section 223 (disobedience to public servant order). More significantly, his party has been mired in controversy following the tragic September 27, 2025 Karur crowd crush at a Vijay rally that killed 41 people and injured 100. The Karur Police filed an FIR against TVK leaders including General Secretary N. Anand for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering lives, and violations under Section 223 - the same section under which Murugan faces charges. The incident has raised serious questions about TVK's organizational capability and crowd management as it makes its electoral debut. Voters in Tiruchendur, a constituency known for the famous Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple (one of the Six Abodes of Murugan), face a choice between an established political order represented by the sitting DMK MLA Anitha R. Radhakrishnan and newcomer Murugan riding on Vijay's star power. While Murugan brings business experience and belongs to a party generating youth enthusiasm, his legal case and his party's recent tragedy warrant careful voter scrutiny about whether TVK has the maturity and organizational strength to govern responsibly.