MLA · 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly (2026–31)Former MLA · 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly (2026–31)

Vanni Arasu
  • Won 2026 by 734
  • Minister

Vanni Arasu

வன்னி அரசு

MLA for Tindivanam since May 2026MLA for Tindivanam, 2026–31VCK

Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare · Hill Tribes, from 22 May 2026

  • AC 72 · Viluppuram district
  • Sitting MLA · 17th Assembly (2026–31)
  • Age 55 at the 2026 election
declared assets
₹93.78 lakh
pending criminal cases
3
education
12th pass
times elected MLA
1

Assets, cases and education as declared in the 2026 sworn affidavit to the Election Commission of India. The cases are pending, not convictions. Age: from the Election Commission's candidate profile.

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Career

Vanni Arasu: the career, year by year

First elected to the Assembly in 2026

  • Assembly win
  • Office held
  • Party
  1. Pre-politics

    Long-time VCK organiser in Viluppuram district under chair Thol. Thirumavalavan.

  2. 14 Mar 2021

    As the VCK's deputy general secretary, was named its candidate for Vanur.

  3. 2 May 2021

    Lost Vanur as the VCK's candidate, by 21,727 votes to the AIADMK.

  4. 4 May 2026

    Won Tindivanam for the VCK (polling was on 23 April).

    See the full 2026 result
  5. 22 May 2026

    Sworn in as Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare and Hill Tribes in CM Vijay's ministry.

  6. May 2026

    Designated VCK Legislature Party Leader — head of VCK's two-MLA bloc in the 17th Assembly.

  7. 9 May 2026

    Delivers VCK's formal letter of support to Governor Arlekar at Lok Bhavan — taking the TVK bloc from 116 to 118 in writing for the first time, the procedural pivot that made government formation possible. Tells Thanthi TV the party hopes Thirumavalavan will be Deputy Chief Minister.

Profile

About Vanni Arasu

He is the VCK Legislature Party Leader — the man who delivered VCK's formal support letter to Governor Arlekar on 9 May 2026, taking the TVK bloc from 116 to 118 and clearing the path to government formation. On 22 May 2026 he was sworn in as Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare and Hill Tribes — the VCK's first seat in a Tamil Nadu cabinet.

Party
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
In government
Minister · Adi Dravidar Welfare · Hill Tribes · from 22 May 2026
Born
1971, Thiruperunthur, Viluppuram district
Profession
Politician (VCK).
District
Viluppuram

Education

  • 1989Class 12, Government High School, Malangkinnaru

Party & ideology

Vanni Arasu's politics is in the VCK mainstream — anti-caste, Ambedkarite, Dalit-rights-first. In the 17th Assembly he is the senior of the VCK's two MLAs; the party first backed the TVK government from outside and, on 22 May 2026, joined it with Arasu as minister. The 2026 letter to Arlekar — drafted on VCK chair Thirumavalavan's instruction and physically handed to Lok Bhavan by Arasu — is the procedural document that broke TN's 5-day government-formation impasse.

Family

Son of Rathinasamy. Married to Aathirai. Family rooted in Tiruperunthur, Viluppuram district — the VCK's Dalit-rights core-belt.

Questions people ask

Which minister is Vanni Arasu?

Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, Hill Tribes in the Tamil Nadu government, from 22 May 2026; portfolios as on the Government of Tamil Nadu's list of ministers, checked 26 September 2026.

Who is Vanni Arasu?

A VCK politician from Tindivanam, Viluppuram district. First-time MLA from Tindivanam (AC 72), elected on VCK ticket in 2026 with 63,833 votes. Designated VCK Legislature Party Leader and the figure who delivered VCK's formal support letter to Governor Arlekar on 9 May 2026.

What was Vanni Arasu's role in the TVK government formation?

On 9 May 2026 evening, he hand-delivered VCK chair Thol. Thirumavalavan's signed support letter to Lok Bhavan — the document that took the TVK bloc from 116 to 118 in the Governor's count for the first time. Without that letter, Vijay's path to oath was blocked.

Was Vanni Arasu an MLA before?

No — Tindivanam 2026 was his first Assembly term. Previously he organised at the district level for VCK in Viluppuram.

Is VCK part of the TVK government?

Yes, since 22 May 2026, when Vanni Arasu was sworn in as Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare and Hill Tribes. The VCK first backed the government from outside: at his 9 May press conference Thirumavalavan offered 'unconditional support' to prevent President's Rule or an AIADMK government.

Other MLAs from Viluppuram district

A. GaneshkumarGingee · PMKC. Ve. ShanmugamMailam · AIADMKD. GowthamVanur · DMKR. LakshmananViluppuram · DMKC. SivakumarVikravandi · PMKS. PalanisamyTirukkoyilur · AIADMK

Page last changed 2 October 2026.

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