Arcot N. Veeraswami is a former minister for electricity in the Tamil Nadu State of India. He became the treasurer of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Party[4][5] and emerged as number three in the party after Karunanidhi and K Anbazhagan in the early 1980s.[6][7] He was treated as the right-hand person to Karunanidhi[8] and was also said to be the main peacemaker in the party.[9] He was born in Kuppadichatham village in North Arcot district in Tamil Nadu on 21 April 1931 to Narayanasamy Naidu and Jeyammal couple.[10][11] He finished his education before actively engaging in politics. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly six times. From 1989 to 1991, during the DMK rule, he served as the Minister for Food [12][13] and from 1996 to 2001 as the Minister for Health & Electricity.[14][15][16][17] Furthermore, during 2006 - 2011 he served as the Minister for Electricity and Rural Industries.[1][2][18][19][20]

Arcot N. Veeraswami
Minister for Electricity (Government of Tamil Nadu)
In office
13 May 2006 – 15 May 2011
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Minister for Rural Industries (Government of Tamil Nadu)[1][2]
In office
13 May 2006 – 21 August 2007
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Minister for Electricity and Health (Government of Tamil Nadu)
In office
13 May 1996 – 13 May 2001
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Minister for Food (Government of Tamil Nadu)
In office
27 January 1989 – 30 January 1991
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Headquarters Principal Secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
27 December 2008 – 8 January 2015
LeaderM. Karunanidhi
General SecretaryK. Anbazhagan
Preceded byDurai Murugan
Succeeded byDurai Murugan
Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
12 May 1994 – 26 December 2008
LeaderM. Karunanidhi
General SecretaryK. Anbazhagan
Preceded byS. J. Sadiq Pasha
Succeeded byM. K. Stalin
Personal details
Born (1931-04-21) 21 April 1931 (age 92)
Kuppadichatham, North Arcot, Tamil Nadu, India
Political partyDravida Munnetra Kazhagam
SpouseKasturi
ChildrenKalanidhi Veeraswamy
NicknameArcotar[3]

Politics edit

Veerasamy worked as a clerk in the state electricity board before being handpicked by DMK's founder, C N Annadurai, as a candidate for the Arcot constituency in 1967; after which he became the treasurer of the DMK Party and emerged as number three in the party after Karunanidhi and K Anbazhagan in the early 80s.[6][7] Following his rise in popularity, Veerasamy rose in the party's ranks and was unanimously elected as the Treasurer of Dravida Munnetras Kazhagam in 1994 to 2008.[4][21] He has been a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party and has been elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly six times.[22] He has participated in several agitations against oppression staged by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and has courted arrest several times, the most notable being MISA in 1976 when he was arrested and tortured for one year. He lost his hearing in one ear.[23] He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Arcot constituency in 1967 and 1971, Purasaiwalkam constituency in 1989, and Annanagar constituency in 1996, 2001, and 2006 in the General elections.[24] He also served as a Member of the Legislative Council from 1977 to 1988.[25]

He was sworn in as Minister of the Govt of Tamil Nadu thrice during 1989,1996 and 2006 as Minister For Food, Minister for Health and Electricity and Minister For Electricity and Rural Industries respectively.[1][2][20]

Elections contested and results edit

Year Constituency Result
1967 Arcot Won
1971 Arcot Won
1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Council Won
1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Council Won
1989 Purasawalkam Won
1996 Anna Nagar Won
2001 Anna Nagar Won
2006 Anna Nagar Won

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "List of Ministers and their portfolios". Thehindu.com. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Stalin to be minister for the first time". Rediff.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  3. ^ "What's in a name?". Thehindu.com. 25 April 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Stalin made deputy general secretary". The Hindu. 3 June 2003. Archived from the original on 8 July 2003. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Trouble in the AIADMK". Frontline.thehindu.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Top policy making body of DMK to meet on Dec 27". Zee News. 26 December 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b Balachandar, G. (4 February 2008). "The steel anchor". Business Standard. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  8. ^ Thanthi TV (30 August 2018). "(02/09/2018) Rajapattai - Promo - Exclusive Interview With Arcot Veeraswami - Thanthi TV". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  9. ^ Radhakrishnan, R. K. (29 January 2014). "Drama in DMK's first family continues to play out". Thehindu.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  10. ^ "Arcot Veerasamy bereaved". Oneindia.com. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Arcot Veerasamy's mother dead". Thehindu.com. 15 September 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  12. ^ Prabhu Chawla. "Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi's first decisions make it clear that he means business". India Today. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Karuna cabinet has 20 new faces, ten old colleagues". Oneindia.com. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Rediff On The NeT: Karunanidhi denies he is meeting Mahajan". M.rediff.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Rediff On The NeT: Karunanidhi minister faces probe". M.rediff.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Action likely against Cuddalore doctor". The Hindu. 25 April 2000. Retrieved 1 April 2019.[dead link]
  17. ^ "Centre suggests steps against power theft". The Hindu. 12 January 2000. Retrieved 1 April 2019.[dead link]
  18. ^ "Arcot Veerasamy distributes wheelchairs". Thehindu.com. 7 August 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  19. ^ "DMK govt harassing Jaya TV shareholder - Indian Express". Archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Tamilnadu State Government :Council of Ministers (as of May 28, 2006)". Tamilelibrary.org. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  21. ^ "டிஜிட்டல் திண்ணை: தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின், பொருளாளர் துரைமுருகன்; செப்.1 பொதுக்குழு!". Minnambalam.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  22. ^ Arcot N. Veeraswami profile at Tamil Nadu government website Archived July 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "Emergency paradox: Common man was largely unaffected in TN". Hindustantimes.com/. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  24. ^ Ravikumar, N. (21 April 2016). "DMK struggling to regain Anna Nagar". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  25. ^ "மந்திரி.. தந்திரி: கேபினெட் கேமரா - ஆனந்த விகடன்". Vikatan.com/. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2019.