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

L. E. Jothimani
  • Won 2026 by 33,063

L. E. Jothimani

எல். ஈ. ஜோதிமணி

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

  • AC 159 · Cuddalore district
  • Sitting MLA · 17th Assembly (2026–31)
  • Age 71 at the 2026 election
declared assets
₹85.48 lakh
pending criminal cases
1
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.

How did my village vote?Kattumannarkoil seat page

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Career

L. E. Jothimani: the career, year by year

First elected to the Assembly in 2026

  • Assembly win
  • Office held
  1. Family roots

    Son of L. Elayaperumal. Carries forward a multi-generational political legacy in the Dalit-rights movement.

  2. 1979

    Completes pre-university education at Pachayappas College, Madras.

  3. 1984

    Earns NCVT engineering trade certification in mechanics (diesel) at Chennai Port Trust.

  4. Apr 2026

    Fielded by VCK from Kattumannarkoil — after VCK chair Thirumavalavan's late-decision U-turn that he would not personally contest the Assembly polls. Jothimani took his place.

  5. 4 May 2026

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

    See the full 2026 result
Profile

About L. E. Jothimani

He is one of VCK's two MLAs in the 17th Assembly.

Party
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
Born
Approximately 1955
Profession
Politician (VCK); engineer-mechanic by training
District
Cuddalore

Education

  • 1979PUC, Pachayappas College, Madras
  • 1984NCVT certification in Engineering Trade — Mechanics (Diesel), Chennai Port Trust

Party & ideology

Jothimani sits in the VCK mainstream — Ambedkarite, anti-caste, social-justice-first. He took the Kattumannarkoil seat after VCK chief Thirumavalavan's reversal on contesting the Assembly polls (Thirumavalavan continues as Lok Sabha MP from Chidambaram). Inside the 17th Assembly he is the second VCK voice alongside Vanni Arasu (Tindivanam) — the two MLAs whose 9 May letter of support to Governor Arlekar took the TVK bloc to 118.

Family

Son of L. Elayaperumal, a foundational figure in the Dalit movement in Tamil Nadu. The Elayaperumal family carries decades of organising history in Cuddalore-Tirukoilur belt.

Questions people ask

Who is L. E. Jothimani?

VCK MLA from Kattumannarkoil (SC reserved, AC 159) in Cuddalore district. First-time Assembly winner in 2026, with 85,179 votes and a 33,063-vote margin over PMK's A. Sozhan.

Why was L. E. Jothimani fielded instead of Thirumavalavan?

VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan announced in early April 2026 that he would not personally contest the Assembly elections — choosing to remain a Lok Sabha MP from Chidambaram. The party fielded Jothimani in his place at Kattumannarkoil. Jothimani's family lineage and Cuddalore-belt organising made him the natural choice.

What is Kattumannarkoil's reservation status?

SC-reserved (Scheduled Castes). It is one of 44 Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies reserved for SC candidates, sitting inside Cuddalore district.

What is Jothimani's role in the VCK?

One of two VCK MLAs in the 17th Assembly (alongside Vanni Arasu, Tindivanam). The two together delivered VCK's 9 May 2026 support letter to Governor Arlekar — the procedural step that took the TVK bloc from 116 to 118.

Other MLAs from Cuddalore district

C. V. GanesanTittakudi · DMKPremallatha VijayakantVriddhachalam · DMDKR. RajendranNeyveli · AIADMKK. MohanPanruti · AIADMKB. RajkumarCuddalore · TVKM. R. K. PanneerselvamKurinjipadi · DMKA. ArunmozhithevanBhuvanagiri · AIADMKM. Thamimun AnsariChidambaram · DMK

Page last changed 2 October 2026.

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