MLA · 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly (2026–31)Former MLA · 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly (2026–31)
Won 2026 by 10,063
T. Saminathan
டி. சாமிநாதன்
MLA for Vedasandur since May 2026MLA for Vedasandur, 2026–31DMK
AC 133 · Dindigul district
Sitting MLA · 17th Assembly (2026–31)
Term ended 10 May 2031
Age 56 at the 2026 election
declared assets
₹25.97 cr
pending criminal cases
1
education
Graduate
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.
Active in the DMK's Dindigul district organisation; runs a business interest in the Vedasandur-Dindigul belt — declared total assets of around Rs 25.97 crore in his 2026 ECI affidavit, with about Rs 9.88 crore in liabilities.
2026
Nominated by the DMK for Vedasandur in place of sitting MLA S. Gandhirajan, the 2021 winner, as part of the party's candidate-renewal exercise across Dindigul district.
4 May 2026
Won Vedasandur for the DMK (polling was on 23 April).
Begins his first term as DMK MLA in the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Profile
About T. Saminathan
His first Assembly term began in 2026. He replaced sitting DMK MLA S. Gandhirajan, who had won Vedasandur in 2021, as the party's candidate for 2026 — and held the seat for the DMK against the AIADMK's 2016 winner Paramasivam, who was returning for a comeback bid.
Party
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Born
Born around 1970; Dindigul district
Profession
Businessman and DMK organiser in the Dindigul-Vedasandur belt; first-time MLA of 2026
Saminathan represents the DMK's continuing strategy of candidate renewal in winnable seats — replacing a 2021 winner with a younger organiser to refresh the booth machine while holding the alliance vote-share. Vedasandur, often called the 'Nostradamus seat' because its winner has historically tracked the eventual government in Tamil Nadu, broke that pattern in 2026: Saminathan held it for the DMK, but TVK formed the government on 10 May 2026.
Family
Family details kept private per ECI affidavit; spouse listed but no public profile.
Questions people ask
Was 2026 his first Assembly term?
Yes. T. Saminathan won Vedasandur (AC 133) in 2026 as a first-time MLA of 2026, replacing the DMK's 2021 winner S. Gandhirajan as the party's candidate.
Why was Gandhirajan replaced?
The Gandhirajan had won Vedasandur in 2021 but the DMK opted to field a fresh candidate in 2026. Saminathan was chosen after the party's candidate-selection process across Dindigul district.
What is the Vedasandur 'Nostradamus' tag?
Vedasandur is one of a handful of Tamil Nadu seats where the winner's party has historically tracked the eventual state government. Local commentators sometimes call it the 'Nostradamus' seat for its bellwether record. The 2026 result broke that record: Saminathan won the seat for the DMK, but TVK formed the government on 10 May 2026 and the DMK went into opposition.
What are his declared assets?
Per his 2026 ECI affidavit: total assets of about Rs 25.97 crore with around Rs 9.88 crore in liabilities. He has one criminal case on record, is a graduate, and was 56 at the time of nomination.
