A. C. Shanmugam

A. C. Shanmugam is the founder and president of the Puthiya Needhi Katchi, a caste-based political party for the Mudaliar caste in Tamil Nadu, India.^[1] He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Vellore constituency as an AIADMK candidate in the 1984 election.

A. C. Shanmugam
A. C. Shanmugam giving a speech
Member of parliament for Vellore (Lok Sabha constituency)
In office 1984–1989
Prime Minister	Rajiv Gandhi
Preceded by	A.K.A. Abdul Samad
Succeeded by	A.K.A. Abdul Samad
Founder & Chancellor of Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute
Incumbent
Assumed office 1991
Founder and leader of Puthiya Needhi Katchi
Incumbent
Assumed office 2001
Founder & Chancellor of Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute and ACS Group of Institutions
Personal details
Born	Arani, Tamil Nadu, India
Children	A.C.S. Arun Kumar
Occupation	Leader of Puthiya Needhi Katchi (New Justice Party)

Political career

He began his political career as an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) politician,^[2] when in 1984, he won the Parliament Election with 52.93% of votes for AIADMK.^[3] Subsequently, he held the posts of MP and Member of the Legislative Assembly, before founding the New Justice Party.^[4]

In 2014, as a BJP candidate he contested elections in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency and lost.^[2]

Later, he returned to AIADMK.^[5]

He stood from the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 on a AIADMK ticket and lost.^[6]

Puthiya Needhi Katchi

Puthiya Needhi Katchi (translation: New Justice Party), is a caste-based political party in Tamil Nadu founded by A.C. Shanmugam for the Mudaliar caste.^[1] The party was started just before the 2001 Tamil Nadu assembly election. The leader of the party claims to represent Mudaliars and Pillaimars castes significantly present from all over TamilNadu.

As of 2022, the party is still led by A. C. Shanmugam, and continues to ally with larger parties.^[7]

Business

He is also the founder and chancellor of Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Rajarajeswari Group of Institutions, and ACS group of institutions in Arani.^[8]

Electoral performance

General Elections of India

Elections	Constituency	Party	Result	Votes Gained	% Votes
1984 Indian general election	Vellore	AIADMK	Won	284416	52.93%
2014 Indian general election	Vellore	BJP	Lost	324326	33.26%
2019 Indian general election	Vellore	AIADMK	Lost	477199	46.42%

References

1. • Thirunavukkarasu, R. (2001). "Election 2001: Changing Equations". Economic and Political Weekly. 36 (27): 2486–2489. ISSN 0012-9976.
   • "A heady cocktail of caste and politics". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
   • "2001ஆம் ஆண்டு தேர்தல்: வீழ்ச்சியிலிருந்து ஜெயலலிதா மீண்டது எப்படி?". BBC News தமிழ் (in Tamil). Retrieved 17 April 2024.
   • "Politics and Protest: Who Will Win in Tamil Nadu? | Economic and Political Weekly". www.epw.in. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
2. Sivakumar, R (26 July 2019). "'Vellore different from rest of Tamil Nadu'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
3. "Vellore Lok Sabha Election Result - Parliamentary Constituency". resultuniversity.com. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
4. "போஸ்டர் சலசலப்பு; அடித்து நொறுக்கப்பட்ட முகாம்... வேலூரில் ஏ.சி.சண்முகத்தைச் சுற்றும் சர்ச்சைகள்!". vikatan.com (in Tamil). 9 January 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
5. Hariss, John (2005). "Whatever happened to cultural nationalism in Tamil Nadu? A reading of current events and the recent literature on Tamil politics". In Wyatt, Andrew; Zavos, John (eds.). Decentring the Indian Nation. Routledge. p. 103. ISBN 07146-5387X.
6. J, Shanmughasundaram (31 March 2024). "Minorities have a say in Dravidian stronghold in multi-cornered fight". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
7. Daily, Keralakaumudi (8 February 2020). "Rajinikanth to announce party soon, aim to evict a single party from TN". Keralakaumudi Daily.
8. Demu, Blessey. "Honorary Fellowship for A C Shanmugam". news18.com. News18. Retrieved 13 October 2020.

Further reading