Gunasekaran.G

Gunasekaran G, 53, is a Puthiya Tamilagam candidate contesting from Tiruchuli constituency in Tamil Nadu. An 8th-standard pass who declares his profession as 'Driver', Gunasekaran has a more complex political background than his modest affidavit suggests. He previously served as a two-term MLA representing Manamadurai constituency under the AIADMK banner, winning elections in both 2006 and 2011 during the party's stronghold years under J. Jayalalithaa. His legislative career ended with a loss in the 2016 elections, marking a turning point in his political trajectory. In January 2017, Gunasekaran made headlines by publicly breaking with the AIADMK leadership following the death of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. He announced he could not work with the existing party leadership, expressing support for Deepa Jayakumar, Jayalalithaa's niece, in her bid to lead the party. His statement reflected broader internal tensions within AIADMK over succession and what he termed 'dynastic politics'. This split appears to have led to his current association with Puthiya Tamilagam, a Dalit-focused regional party led by K. Krishnasamy. Gunasekaran now contests from Tiruchuli, a different constituency from his previous Manamadurai base. His affidavit declares assets of Rs. 18.64 lakhs (all movable, no immovable property) with liabilities of Rs. 1.66 lakhs. He faces 3 criminal cases related to unlawful assembly, disobedience to public orders, and negligent conduct with fire, though none are classified as serious IPC charges. His social media presence is virtually non-existent, with no verified accounts found on major platforms, making him reliant on traditional ground-level campaigning. Voters should know that while Gunasekaran declares himself as a 'Driver' professionally, his documented political career as a former two-term MLA suggests a more substantial political identity. His switch from AIADMK to Puthiya Tamilagam represents a significant ideological shift from a Dravidian major party to a Dalit-rights focused regional outfit. The absence of previous election comparison data for Tiruchuli and limited information about his current party role makes it difficult to assess his prospects in this new constituency.