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

E. V. Velu
  • Won 2026 by 2,455

E. V. Velu

ஈ. வி. வேலு

MLA for Tiruvannamalai since May 2026MLA for Tiruvannamalai, 2026–31DMK

  • AC 63 · Tiruvannamalai district
  • Sitting MLA · 17th Assembly (2026–31)
  • Born 15 March 1951
declared assets
₹20.77 cr
pending criminal cases
0
education
Postgraduate
times elected MLA
7

Assets, cases and education as declared in the 2026 sworn affidavit to the Election Commission of India.

How did my village vote?Tiruvannamalai seat page

Quick facts: E. V. Velu

Sources: Election Commission of India (result, candidate profile) and the 2026 affidavit.

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Career

E. V. Velu: the career, year by year

  1. 1984
  2. 2001
  3. 2006
  4. 2011
  5. 2016
  6. 2021
  7. 2026

Elected to the Assembly 7 times: Thandarambattu, Tiruvannamalai

  • Assembly win
  • Office held
  • Party
  1. Early 1970s

    Joins the AIADMK at its inception under MGR's wing; appointed Deputy Organiser for Thandarambattu.

  2. 1984

    First MLA win from Thandarambattu on the AIADMK ticket.

  3. 1997

    Crosses over to the DMK during the AIADMK churn of the late 1990s.

  4. 2001, 2006

    Re-elected from Thandarambattu on the DMK ticket.

  5. 13 May 2006 – 15 May 2011

    Sworn in as Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the M. Karunanidhi cabinet — oversaw the Public Distribution System and rice procurement in the third Karunanidhi term.

  6. 2011, 2016

    Re-elected from Tiruvannamalai (AC 63) after the Thandarambattu seat was redrawn.

  7. 2021

    Wins Tiruvannamalai for a third consecutive time as the DMK takes six of the district's eight seats.

  8. 7 May 2021

    Sworn in as Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports in M. K. Stalin's first cabinet — anchoring state highways, building works and minor ports through the full 2021-26 term.

  9. Nov 2023

    Income Tax Department conducts a five-day search at premises linked to him in Tiruvannamalai, Chennai, Coimbatore and Karur, including the Arunai group of educational institutions. Velu denies wrongdoing and says no cash was seized; the case continues at the assessment stage.

  10. 4 May 2026

    Won Tiruvannamalai for the DMK (polling was on 23 April).

    See the full 2026 result
  11. 7 May 2026

    Named whip of the DMK Legislature Party at its meeting at Anna Arivalayam, with Udhayanidhi Stalin as leader and K. N. Nehru as deputy leader.

  12. 11 May 2026

    Continues as DMK MLA in the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly — his seventh Assembly term.

Profile

About E. V. Velu

This is his seventh Assembly term — three from Thandarambattu (1984, 2001, 2006) and four from Tiruvannamalai (2011, 2016, 2021, 2026). He served as Tamil Nadu's Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports through the 2021-26 term and was earlier the state's Minister for Food and Civil Supplies (2006-11) under M. Karunanidhi.

Party
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Born
15 March 1951 in Koovanur, near Manalurpet, Kallakurichi district
Profession
Politician (1972– ); one-time pump repairman and bus conductor with Dhamodharan Bus Services in Tiruvannamalai; founder of the Saraswathy Ammal Educational Trust
District
Tiruvannamalai

Education

  • SchoolingSchooling in Kallakurichi district
  • PostgraduateMaster's degree in History — Annamalai University

Party & ideology

Velu's politics has long blended Dravidian welfare-state continuity with rural-to-urban infrastructure delivery in the northern Tamil Nadu belt. His PWD-Highways tenure in 2021-26 ran the Singara Chennai 2.0 highway corridors, the network of state and major district roads, and the minor ports programme along the Bay of Bengal. Inside the DMK he is among the senior generation that bridged the Karunanidhi era and the Stalin era, and represents the bloc of MGR-trained AIADMK leaders who joined the DMK during the 1990s realignments.

Family

Wife Sankari Velu (known as Jeeva Velu). Two sons — Dr. E.V.V. Kamban, State Vice President of the DMK Medical Wing, and Er. E.V.V. Kumaran. Brother Manogaran is also active in the party.

Official channels

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Questions people ask

How old is E. V. Velu?

E. V. Velu was born on 15 March 1951.

Who is E. V. Velu's wife?

The 2026 affidavit declares the spouse's profession as Agriculture. Our record holds no other detail about the spouse.

Who is E. V. Velu's father?

In the 2026 nomination, E. V. Velu is declared as the son of Ethirajilu.

What is E. V. Velu's educational qualification?

Postgraduate, as declared in the 2026 affidavit. As written there: M.A History Annamalai University Chidambaram Tamil Nadu year March 2004

How much are E. V. Velu's assets?

₹20.77 cr in declared assets in the 2026 affidavit sworn to the Election Commission of India; 0 pending criminal cases (declared, not convictions).

Which party and constituency does E. V. Velu belong to?

E. V. Velu is the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA for Tiruvannamalai (AC 63, Tiruvannamalai district), elected in April 2026.

How many votes did E. V. Velu get?

88,273 votes (40.1% of those polled) in the April 2026 election, a margin of 2,455 votes over Arul Arumugam (TVK).

When was E. V. Velu sworn in?

As an MLA on 11 May 2026, when the 17th Assembly met for the first time.

Is E. V. Velu the oldest MLA in Tamil Nadu?

E. V. Velu is the joint 4th oldest of the 233 MLAs elected in April 2026, at age 76 when filing (the Election Commission's candidate profile). Shared ranks are ties. Full list: MLA records.

How many times has E. V. Velu won?

Seven — Thandarambattu in 1984 (AIADMK), 2001 and 2006 (DMK), then Tiruvannamalai in 2011, 2016, 2021 and 2026 (DMK). He has held two ministerial portfolios across two cabinets — Food and Civil Supplies (2006-11) under M. Karunanidhi and Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports (2021-26) under M. K. Stalin.

What portfolio did he hold under M. K. Stalin?

Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports for the full 2021-26 term. He oversaw state highways, public works construction, the network of state and major district roads, and the minor ports along the Tamil Nadu coast.

What was the November 2023 Income Tax search about?

On 3 November 2023 the Income Tax Department began searches at around 40 premises linked to Velu — across Tiruvannamalai, Chennai, Coimbatore and Karur — including the Arunai group of educational institutions run by the family. The searches lasted five days. Velu held a press conference saying no cash was seized and that the search was meant to intimidate the DMK.

Did he start in the AIADMK?

Yes — Velu joined the AIADMK at its inception in 1972 under MGR and was first elected to the Assembly, from Thandarambattu, in 1984. He moved to the DMK in 1997 and has contested every subsequent election on the DMK ticket.

Other MLAs from Tiruvannamalai district

S. VeluChengam · AIADMKS. RamachandranKilpennathur · AIADMKAgri S. S. KrishnamurthyKalasapakkam · AIADMKR. AbishekPolur · TVKL. JayasudhaArani · AIADMKMukkur N. SubramanianCheyyar · AIADMKS. AmbethkumarVandavasi · DMK

Page last changed 12 October 2026.

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Official contact

Contact details

Email
mlatiruvannamalai@tn.gov.in
Phone
90032 59091
Address
Se.Gudalur Village
Serppapattu Post
Thandarampattu Taluk
Tiruvannamalai – 606 753.

As published by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (members list), checked 20 October 2026.

Source: assembly.tn.gov.inReport an error