Thangam Thennarasu

Thangam Thennarasu was born in Mallankinaru, which is now Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, on 3rd June 1966. After this, he got an engineering bachelor’s degree, which was the basis of his technical and administrative ruling style.

Thangam Thennarasu entered politics from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), taking over the political tradition of his father, V. Thangapandian, who was a member of the legislative assembly (MLA). Thennarasu first grabbed the Aruppukottai Assembly seat in the 1998 by-election after his father’s death, and then secured it again in 2006.

When the Tiruchuli constituency was formed in 2011, Thennarasu made the switch and became its MLA. He managed to keep this seat in the following elections, gaining victory in 2016 and 2021, signaling a constant political support base.

Thennarasu has spent his legislative career in several major portfolios. He has been the Minister for School Education (2006–2011), Industries Minister (2021–2023), and the Finance Minister and Minister for Human Resources Management since May 2023. He also briefly handled the Electricity ministry during June 2023–September 2024.

As the Finance Minister, he has a major role in the state budgets and has been the strongest supporter in getting the pending Central Government funds released for the development of Tamil Nadu. Besides, he has been active in pushing for metro projects' approvals along with the increased funding for education and infrastructure.

Until 2025, Thangam Thennarasu is not only the DMK’s senior leader and minister but also the state’s fiscal planner and administrative chief in a close way.