G.Balakrishnan

G. Balakrishnan, also known as G. Bala or Bala, is a 43-year-old independent candidate contesting from Tiruppur (North) constituency in Tamil Nadu. Despite declaring his profession as 'Banyan Worker' with 8th standard education in his affidavit, he is actually an established independent editorial cartoonist and journalist who founded the digital media platform LinesMedia. He previously worked for 12 years with Tamil weekly Kumudam before going independent, building a reputation for fearless criticism of state and central politicians. In November 2017, Bala gained national attention when he was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Crime Branch for posting a cartoon on social media that criticized Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the Nellai Collector, and Commissioner for their failure to prevent the death by self-immolation of the Isakkimuthu family, who were pressured by money lenders. He was booked under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act for 'obscene representation' and Section 501 IPC for defamation. At the time of his arrest, he had over 42,000 Facebook followers and his political cartoons were influential in Tamil Nadu's social media debates. The arrest drew sharp criticism from journalists and civic rights groups who saw it as an attack on free speech, though it was defended by the ruling AIADMK government and BJP leaders. His election affidavit declares assets worth Rs. 43.23 lakhs with liabilities of Rs. 24.65 lakhs, and lists 11 criminal cases against him including 2 serious IPC charges. These include charges related to rioting with deadly weapons (Section 148), assault on public servants (Section 132), criminal intimidation, house trespass, and negligent conduct with explosive substances. The criminal cases appear to stem from his activist journalism work and confrontations with authorities. Voters in Tiruppur (North) should know that while Balakrishnan has a track record as an independent voice willing to challenge political establishment through his cartoons and journalism, he faces significant legal challenges with 11 pending criminal cases. His candidacy represents a test of whether voters value his anti-establishment credentials and free speech advocacy over concerns about his multiple legal troubles and the discrepancy between his declared and actual profession.