MLA · 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly (2026–31)Former MLA · 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly (2026–31)
Won 2026 by 23,966
Minister
M. Vijay Balaji
எம். விஜய் பாலாஜி
MLA for Erode (East) since May 2026MLA for Erode (East), 2026–31TVK
Minister for Handlooms & Textiles · Khadi & Village Industries Board, from 21 May 2026
AC 98 · Erode district
Sitting MLA · 17th Assembly (2026–31)
Term ended 10 May 2031
Age 39 at the 2026 election
times elected MLA
1
Affidavit details not verified yet: the public record we use for this seat could not be matched to this MLA, so assets, cases and education are not shown. Age: from the Election Commission's candidate profile.
B.Com (Company Secretary) from Dr. G.R. Damodaran College, Coimbatore.
Pre-2024
Worked in Erode in business and legal practice, with appointments described in candidate databases as Southern Railway Advocate and Central Govt. Additional Standing Counsel.
2024–25
Joined TVK; appointed Erode City district secretary as the party built out its 19-district secretary structure ahead of 2026.
Mar 2026
Named TVK candidate for Erode East.
4 May 2026
Won Erode (East) for the TVK (polling was on 23 April).
Sworn in as Minister for Handlooms & Textiles and Khadi & Village Industries Board in CM Vijay's ministry.
11 May 2026
Took oath as MLA in the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Profile
About M. Vijay Balaji
He is TVK's Erode City district secretary and a first-time legislator; his win, alongside Ananth Moghan in Erode (West) and K. A. Sengottaiyan in Gobichettipalayam, was part of TVK's haul of five of Erode district's eight seats; the AIADMK won the other three.
Party
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
In government
Minister · Handlooms & Textiles · Khadi & Village Industries Board · from 21 May 2026
Born
1986/87; from Erode district, Tamil Nadu
Profession
Business; advocate (described in candidate-profile databases as Southern Railway Advocate and Central Government Additional Standing Counsel); first-time MLA of 2026, Erode East (TVK)
2005–08B.Com (Company Secretary) — Dr. G.R. Damodaran College, Coimbatore.
Party & ideology
As Erode City district secretary, Balaji built TVK's booth-level network in Erode urban from the ground up. TVK's Erode-district showing — five of the eight seats — was attributed in regional reporting to disciplined ground-game and disaffection with the DMK incumbent in Erode West (where minister S. Muthusamy lost). His own messaging tracked TVK's main 2026 themes of anti-corruption and youth representation in the Kongu belt.
Family
Son of Mathialagan; spouse runs a flower shop per his 2026 ECI affidavit.
Questions people ask
Which minister is M. Vijay Balaji?
Minister for Handlooms & Textiles, Khadi & Village Industries Board in the Tamil Nadu government, from 21 May 2026; portfolios as on the Government of Tamil Nadu's list of ministers, checked 26 September 2026.
Who is M. Vijay Balaji?
A TVK politician and first-time MLA of 2026 from Erode East (AC 98). He was, in 2026, TVK's Erode City district secretary and is a B.Com (Company Secretary) graduate from Dr. G.R. Damodaran College, Coimbatore.
How did Erode district vote in 2026?
TVK won five of Erode district's eight seats — Erode East (Vijay Balaji), Erode West (K.K. Ananth Moghan), Modakurichi, Gobichettipalayam (K.A. Sengottaiyan) and Bhavanisagar — defeating sitting DMK minister S. Muthusamy in Erode West along the way. The AIADMK won Perundurai, Bhavani and Anthiyur.
