Vaiko

Vaiko, whose original name is V. Gopalsamy, is an Indian politician as well as the founder and General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), which is a regional party based in Tamil Nadu. He was a Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MP and generally known as an extremist speaker and for his relentless fight for the upliftment of Tamils.

For a long period of time, he has been the main person in Dravidian politics and a member of the parliamentary upper house (Rajya Sabha). In the year 2025, Vaiko is still leading the MDMK in both its political as well as organizational ways.

By Rashmi | Friday, February 20, 2026, 04:38:39 PM [IST]

Vaiko Biography

Vaiko, whose expansion is Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy, was born on 5 July 1944 in Kalingapatti, Tamil Nadu. A Dravidian leader of the olden days, he was a part of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) during which period he was known for his eloquence and mass appeal. In 1994, he left the Karunanidhi camp due to differences and started his own Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) with an objective to revive the culture of Tamil, social justice, and federated rights.

He has made it into the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha several times and thus has been in both the Lower and Upper Houses of the Parliament. He is one of the vocal champions of the issues of Tamil Nadu, especially the ones related to Sri Lankan Tamils and regional autonomy.

Vaiko is still holding the position of MDMK General Secretary as of 2025 and is actively involved in the alliance politics of Tamil Nadu, which he influences significantly. He is known to most often side with the DMK-led INDIA bloc during the national and state-level coalitions.

Vaiko Personal Life

Full Name	Vaiko
Date of Birth	22 May 1944 (Age 81)
Place of Birth	Tamil Nadu
Party Name	Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Education	Post Graduate
Profession	Agriculturist Advocate and Politician
Father's Name	Shri Vaiyapuri
Mother's Name	NA
Spouse's Name	Renuka Devi
Spouse's Profession	NA
Children	1 Son(s) 2 Daughter(s)
Website	https://www.veethi.com/india-people/vaiko-profile-219-19.htm

Vaiko Net Worth

Net Worth

₹3.6 CRORE

ASSETS

₹3.61 CRORE

Liabilities

₹1.38 LAKHS

Interesting Facts about Vaiko

He is known as the tiger of parliament majority for his good and sober manners. He is known to be a supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Vaiko enjoys writing in his free time and has authored over 50 books apart from regular essays and columns in newspapers.

Political Timeline of Vaiko

2025: Continued as a Rajya Sabha MP and General Secretary of MDMK, supporting the INDIA bloc during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and coordinating alliance strategies in Tamil Nadu.
2019: Elected to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu as part of the DMK-led alliance, marking his return to Parliament after more than a decade.
2016: In 2016 Tamil Nadu state assembly elections, Vaiko contested from Kovilpatti seat. He fielded 29 MDMK candidates. None of them won.
2014: Again he contested from Virudhnagar Loksabha constituency and lost. He was defeated by Radhakrishnan T of AIADMK.
2009: He contested Loksabha Election from Virudhunagar. He was defeated by Manicka Tagore of INC.
2008: Tamil Nadu CID police arrested him on charges of sedition. The charges stemmed from speeches Vaiko made at a party meeting. He gave remarks on the Sri Lankan issue and the government's raids into LTTE-held areas. After 14 days in judicial custody, he was released.
2005: Vaiko started the Marumalarchi Blood Donors' Club. Vaiko has undergone a month-long padayatra in Tamil Nadu demanding for the interlinking of inter-state rivers in India.
2004: During Loksabha elections, Vaiko extensively campaigned for MDMK. He traveled throughout the state for 55 days without a break.
2002: He was controversially arrested under the POTA for his support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. He was released after 18 months of imprisonment.
2000: He was Member, Committee on Ethics till 2001.
1999: Member, Committee of Privileges, Member, Committee on Defence and Member, Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests for two years.
1999: Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (2nd term) Leader and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha.
1998: Member, Committee on External Affairs and its Sub-Committee-I and Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Industry till 1999.
1998: Elected to 12th Lok Sabh from Sivakasi constituency. He defeated Alagirisamy, V. of CPI.
1994: General-Secretary, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (M.D.M.K.).
1986: Member, Committee on Petitions and Member, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table till 1987.
1983: Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes till 1984.
1982: Member, Railway Convention Committee (two terms) till 1984.
1978: Vaiko was the Member, Rajya Sabha (three terms) till 1996.

Vaiko Achievements

President, District Central Cooperative Bank; won (i) Gold Medal in Economics and Best Speaker award in St. Xavier’s College, 1964; (ii) First Prize in Inter-Collegiate-Tamil Oratorical Competitions, 1964-65 and 1965-66, representing Presidency College, Madras; (iii) First-Prize-Silver Cup in Inter-Collegiate Elocution Competition conducted by Madras City Police to celebrate Road Safety Week in 1965; and (iv) Best Orator Award in Law College, Madras,1969; detained, (i) under MISA from 1 February, 1976 to 2 February, 1977; and (ii) again for 40 days for organising Black Flag Demonstration against Late Smt. Indira Gandhi’s visit to Tamil Nadu, October, 1977; jailed, (i) four times, during 1978-81 for peaceful demonstrations and picketing against Tamil Nadu State Government; (ii) four times during 1982-83 for organising Volunteer Camps of DMK; (iii) three times during 1984-86 for participation in agitation against the State Government; and (iv) during 1986-87 for anti-Hindi agitation; President, (i) Presidency College Victoria Hostel Tamil Association, 1965-66; (ii) Land Development Bank, Kuruvikulam, 1971-75; and (iii) M.D.K. Co-operative Supervisors’ Training Institute, 1971-76; Chairman, (i) Panchayat Union, Kuruvikulam, Tirunelveli District, 1970-76; and (ii) Tirunelveli District Co-operative CentralBank, 1972-73; Propaganda-Secretary, DMK Party for Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, 1977-79; Secretary, Election Campaign, DMK headquarters, 1983; Convenor, Dr. Karunanidhi Voluntary Blood Donors’ Association, Tirunelveli; Organiser, Youth Forums; and State Joint Organiser, DMK Students wing, 1970.

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