TN 2026  ›  All MLAs  ›  Sakkarapani . R
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam · MLA Oddanchatram · AC 128

Sakkarapani . R

R. Sakkarapani retained Oddanchatram (AC 128) in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election as the DMK candidate, polling 93,099 votes and winning by a margin of 43,249 over BJP's S. Sekar. This is his seventh consecutive Assembly term from Oddanchatram (1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021, 2026) — a record matched in DMK history only by M. K. Stalin and Duraimurugan. He served as Tamil Nadu's Minister for Food and Civil Supplies through the 2021-26 term in M. K. Stalin's first cabinet, overseeing the public distribution system and paddy procurement.

SR
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Sakkarapani . R

DMKMLA · Oddanchatram
Born
Born in Kaaliyappagoundanpatti (Pungavalasu) village near Kallimandayam, Dindigul district
Constituency
Oddanchatram · AC 128
District
Dindigul
Party
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Profession
Politician (1970s– ); long-time DMK organiser in Dindigul; former Food and Civil Supplies Minister
2026 result
won by 43,249 votes
Education
(B.A., Economics),American College Madurai,Madurai Kamarajar University,Madurai-1983

At a glance

2026 votes
93,099
in the assembly election
Margin
43,249
votes ahead of runner-up
Constituency
Oddanchatram
AC 128 · Dindigul
Party
DMK
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Field size
15
candidates contested
Age
64 yrs
as of 2026
Declared assets
₹15.65 cr
ECI affidavit, 2026
Criminal cases
0 pending
declared in affidavit

Education

Highest qualificationGraduate

ECI affidavit (2026)

0 pending criminal cases declared in the 2026 ECI affidavit. Total declared assets: ₹15.65 cr.

ItemValue
Total declared assets₹15.65 cr
Source: Election Commission of India affidavit, March 2026 — collated by myneta.info (view live page).

Career timeline

The 2026 win — Oddanchatram

Sakkarapani . R polled 93,099 votes, defeating Vidiyal S. Sekar (BJP) by a margin of 43,249.

#CandidatePartyVotes
1Sakkarapani . RDMK93,099
2Vidiyal S. SekarBJP49,850
3Mohan . STVK49,155
4Ragupathi . PNTK5,454
5NotaNOTA1,491

→ Full Oddanchatram (AC 128) seat page · district: Dindigul

Family

S/o · D/o · W/o Rangaswamy Gounder. Spouse: Agricultural & Business.

Party & ideology

Sakkarapani is the textbook DMK Dravidian — Karunanidhi-school party loyalty, agrarian-welfare politics, and a deep grass-roots base in the Oddanchatram-Palani-Athoor belt of Dindigul. His Food portfolio in 2021-26 sat at the heart of the DMK's social-welfare delivery: free ration scheme expansion, pongal gift hampers, and the recovery of paddy procurement after COVID. Inside the party he is one of the senior post-Karunanidhi voices on agrarian issues and PDS reform.

Official channels

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FAQ

How many times has R. Sakkarapani won?

Seven consecutive times from Oddanchatram — 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 and 2026. He is one of only three DMK members to have been elected to the same seat for seven consecutive terms, alongside M. K. Stalin (Kolathur) and Duraimurugan (Katpadi).

What portfolio did he hold in M. K. Stalin's cabinet?

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies — for the full 2021-26 term in M. K. Stalin's first cabinet. He oversaw the public distribution system, ration card modernisation, paddy procurement and the Pongal gift-hamper scheme.

What was his role as DMK Whip?

Chief Government Whip during the 2006-11 DMK government, then DMK Whip in opposition through both the 2011-16 and 2016-21 Assemblies. Whip is a senior parliamentary-discipline post that coordinates the party's voting strength on the floor of the House.

Sources