Selvaraj. A

Selvaraj A, 71, is a retired Central Government employee turned politician affiliated with the Puthiya Tamilagam party, contesting from the Viralimalai constituency in Tamil Nadu. Founded by Dr. K. Krishnasamy on December 15, 1997, Puthiya Tamilagam is a regional party focused on social equity, caste-related reforms, and advocacy for Dalits and other marginalized communities. Selvaraj previously contested the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections from Viralimalai, where he lost to AIADMK's C. Vijayabaskar, who secured 77,285 votes (55.99%). His exact vote share in that election is not documented in available sources. Despite his electoral loss, Selvaraj has remained active in local politics through the Puthiya Tamilagam framework, which has strategically aligned with both major Dravidian parties over the years. In 2016 and 2021, the party fielded Arumugam P from Viralimalai instead of Selvaraj, with both attempts unsuccessful against the incumbent AIADMK candidate. The constituency has proven challenging for smaller regional parties, with C. Vijayabaskar maintaining a strong hold with victories in multiple elections. Selvaraj's financial declaration shows assets of approximately Rs. 56.77 lakhs (Rs. 36.77 lakhs movable and Rs. 20 lakhs immovable) with liabilities of Rs. 20.54 lakhs, which appears reasonable for a retired central government employee of his age and professional background. He has declared no criminal cases, and web searches reveal no controversies, corruption allegations, or legal issues associated with him. What voters should know: Selvaraj represents a party dedicated to social justice and marginalized community empowerment, but has limited documented achievements or high-profile presence. His low media visibility and lack of recent electoral success suggest he operates primarily at the grassroots level. With minimal public information available about specific development work or policy positions, voters have little documented evidence to assess his effectiveness or track record beyond his party's broader ideological stance on caste equity and social reform.