Govi. Chezhiaan: the career, year by year
- 2011
- 2016
- 2021
- 2026
Elected from Thiruvidaimarudur 4 times
- Assembly win
- Office held
- Early career
Studies law at Ambedkar Law College, Chennai; postgraduate work in Sociology and Tamil at Annamalai University; doctorate from the University of Madras on the oratory of M. Karunanidhi.
- May 2011
First MLA win from Thiruvidaimarudur on the DMK ticket — the seat is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates.
- 2016
Re-elected from Thiruvidaimarudur (second term).
- 2021
Re-elected from Thiruvidaimarudur (third term) as the SPA returns to power.
- May 2021
Appointed Chief Government Whip in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly — a senior floor-management role he held for over three years.
- Sep 2024
Cabinet reshuffle — sworn in as Minister for Higher Education, including Technical Education, Electronics, Science and Technology. The reshuffle takes the Stalin cabinet's count of Scheduled-Caste ministers to four — the highest in the state's history.
- Sep 2024
Becomes Pro-Chancellor of Annamalai University ex-officio as the Hon'ble Minister for Higher Education.
- Apr 2025
Publicly differs with Governor R. N. Ravi over Vice-Chancellor appointments and the Supreme Court verdict on the Governor's role; says he will not adopt a confrontationist approach but defends the state's authority over university appointments.
- 4 May 2026
Won Thiruvidaimarudur for the DMK (polling was on 23 April).
See the full 2026 result - 11 May 2026
Continues as DMK MLA in the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly — beginning his fourth Assembly term.