TN 2026  ›  All MLAs  ›  L. E. Jothimani
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi · MLA Kattumannarkoil · AC 159

L. E. Jothimani

L. E. Jothimani won Kattumannarkoil — SC reserved (AC 159) in Cuddalore district in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election as the VCK candidate, polling 85,179 votes against PMK's A. Sozhan (52,116) — a margin of 33,063 in a high-profile SC-reserved contest. He is one of VCK's two MLAs in the 16th Assembly.

L. E. Jothimani
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi

L. E. Jothimani

VCKMLA · Kattumannarkoil
Born
Approximately 1955 (71 yrs as of 2026); son of veteran Dalit leader L. Elayaperumal
Constituency
Kattumannarkoil · AC 159
District
Cuddalore
Party
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
Profession
Politician (VCK); engineer-mechanic by training
2026 result
won by 33,063 votes
Education
PUC From PACHAYAPPAS COLLEGE, MADRAS, YEAR: 1979 & ENGINEERING TRADE IN MECHANIC, (DIESEL) NCVT YEAR: 1984, CHENNAI PORT TRUST

At a glance

2026 votes
85,179
in the assembly election
Margin
33,063
votes ahead of runner-up
Constituency
Kattumannarkoil
AC 159 · Cuddalore
Party
VCK
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
Field size
12
candidates contested
Age
71 yrs
as of 2026
Declared assets
₹85.48 L
ECI affidavit, 2026
Criminal cases
1 pending
declared in affidavit

Education

Highest qualificationOthers

ECI affidavit (2026)

1 pending criminal case declared in the 2026 ECI affidavit. Total declared assets: ₹85.48 L.

ItemValue
Total declared assets₹85.48 L
Liabilities₹3.42 L
Source: Election Commission of India affidavit, March 2026 — collated by myneta.info (view live page).

Career timeline

The 2026 win — Kattumannarkoil

L. E. Jothimani polled 85,179 votes, defeating A. Sozhan (PMK) by a margin of 33,063.

#CandidatePartyVotes
1L. E. JothimaniVCK85,179
2A. SozhanPMK52,116
3S. SeenuvasanTVK43,156
4Sivajothi M.NTK4,563
5Alavanthar M.IND563

→ Full Kattumannarkoil (AC 159) seat page · district: Cuddalore

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.

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 16th 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.

FAQ

Who is L. E. Jothimani?

71-year-old VCK MLA from Kattumannarkoil (SC reserved, AC 159) in Cuddalore district. Son of veteran Dalit leader L. Elayaperumal. 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 16th 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.

Sources