Rajeev

Rajeev, 33, is a doctor-turned-politician contesting from Tiruvadanai constituency in Ramanathapuram district on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket. As a graduate professional in the medical field, he brings healthcare expertise to a constituency that has traditionally alternated between INC and AIADMK representatives. His declared assets of Rs. 3.14 crore (including Rs. 2.75 crore in movable assets and Rs. 38.86 lakh in immovable assets) appear consistent with a medical professional's earnings, though he carries liabilities of Rs. 57.47 lakh. He has no declared criminal cases. Rajeev is entering politics through TVK, a party founded just over a year ago on February 2, 2024, by popular Tamil actor Vijay. The party has positioned itself as a centre-left alternative based on Ambedkarism, Marxism, and Periyarism, with the slogan "All are equal by birth." TVK is preparing for its electoral debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where it plans to contest all 234 constituencies without alliances. The party held its first major conference in October 2024 with over 800,000 attendees and claims a membership exceeding 15 million as of September 2025. The Tiruvadanai constituency presents a challenging battleground, as it was won by INC candidate R.M. Karumanikam in 2021 with 79,364 votes (39.33%), while AIADMK's Karunas had won it in 2016 with 76,786 votes (41.14%). As a first-time candidate from a brand-new party, Rajeev faces established parties with strong organizational networks. However, TVK's parent party has been investing heavily in booth-level organization, membership drives, and IT infrastructure to compete effectively. Voters should know that while Rajeev himself has no public controversies, his party TVK is currently dealing with serious legal challenges. On September 27, 2025, a crowd crush at a TVK rally in Karur killed 41 people and injured around 100, leading to FIRs against party leadership for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and safety violations. Though party founder Vijay was not named in the FIR, the incident has raised questions about organizational capacity and public safety management. As a new entrant representing a party attempting to disrupt Tamil Nadu's established political order, Rajeev's candidacy represents both fresh perspective and untested governance capabilities.