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{{Short description|Tamil politician}}
{{notability|1=Biographies|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Indian name|Ramachandran|Arumugam}}{{distinguish|text=[[A. Ramachandran]], the [[painter]] from [[Kerala]]}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = A. Ramachandran
| office = 6th [[List of mayors of Salem, Tamil Nadu|Mayor of Salem]]
| bodyclass = Salem Corporation
| preceded = [[S. Soundappan]]
| term_start = 4 March 2022
| legislature = Salem City Municipal Corporation
| party = [[File:Flag DMK.svg|24px]] [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (1961-present)
| caption =
| image =
| education = [[SSLC]]
| occupation = Politician
| parents = Arumugam (father)
| children = Sudharsan Babu (son)<br />Sumithra (daughter)
| spouse = Meenatchi
| birth_place = [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Madras Province]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1944}}
| constituency1 = Ward 6
| office1 = Councillor,<br />[[Salem City Municipal Corporation]]
| term_start1 = 2 March 2022
| nickname = ''AR'', ''Periyavar'' (elder)<ref>{{Cite web |title=சேலம் மேயராக வெற்றி வாகை சூடும் ராமச்சந்திரன்! - யார் இவர்? |url=https://tamil.samayam.com/latest-news/salem/dmk-candidate-ramachandran-has-been-declared-for-the-post-of-mayor-in-salem-corporation-/articleshow/89967626.cms |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Samayam Tamil |language=ta}}</ref>
| deputy = [[M. Saradha Devi]]
}}
'''Arumugam Ramachandran''' is an Indian politician and the incumbent [[List of mayors of Salem, Tamil Nadu|Mayor of Salem]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=I |first=Shyamsundar |date=2022-03-03 |title=கருணாநிதியே பாராட்டியவர்! எடப்பாடி கோட்டையில் கொடி நடும் ராமச்சந்திரன்.. யார் இந்த சேலம் மேயர்? |url=https://tamil.oneindia.com/news/salem/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-salem-mayor-450579.html |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=tamil.oneindia.com |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Two DMK veterans in race for Salem city mayor post, party high command to have the final say - The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/Feb/26/two-dmk-veterans-in-race-for-salem-city-mayor-post-party-high-command-to-have-the-final-say-2423992.html |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.newindianexpress.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 March 2022 |title=ramachandran: Ramachandran Sworn-in As Salem Mayor {{!}} Coimbatore News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/ramachandran-sworn-in-as-salem-mayor/articleshow/90004037.cms |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> A member of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) since 1961, he has served in a number of posts in the DMK's Salem unit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-03 |title=Karunanidhi praised! Ramachandran planting flag at Edappadi Fort .. Who is the Mayor of Salem? {{!}} All you need to know about the new Salem Mayor |url=https://time.news/karunanidhi-praised-ramachandran-planting-flag-at-edappadi-fort-who-is-the-mayor-of-salem-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-salem-mayor/ |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=Time News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Salem Mayor Candidate Ramachandran |url=https://patrikai.com/tag/salem-mayor-candidate-ramachandran/ |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.patrikai.com |language=en-US |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303151517/https://patrikai.com/tag/salem-mayor-candidate-ramachandran/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2022-03-04 |title=Ramachandran takes charge as Salem Mayor |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/ramachandran-takes-charge-as-salem-mayor/article65190153.ece |access-date=2022-03-05 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Ramachandran was born to Arumugam of Gorimedu, [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] in 1944. He studied up to [[SSLC]].{{fact|date=March 2023}}

== Politics ==

=== Early years and recognition ===
In 1961, Ramachandran joined the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK), then headed by [[C.N.Annadurai|C.N. Annadurai]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-03 |title=சேலம் மேயர் ஆகிறார் ராமச்சந்திரன்! காங்கிரசுக்கு துணை மேயர் பதவி!! |url=https://nakkheeran.in/24-by-7-news/thamizhagam/ramachandran-becomes-salem-mayor-deputy-mayor-post-congress |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=nakkheeran |language=en}}</ref> He participated in many protests held by DMK and went to prison numerous times.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-03 |title=Know your Mayors: 11 of 20 posts reserved for women in Tamil Nadu |url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/TamilNadu/2022/03/03142706/1356296/Know-your-Mayors-11-of-20-posts-reserved-for-women-.vpf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303091902/https://www.dtnext.in/News/TamilNadu/2022/03/03142706/1356296/Know-your-Mayors-11-of-20-posts-reserved-for-women-.vpf |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=dtNext.in |language=en}}</ref> Later, he became close with senior DMK leaders such as [[Arcot N. Veeraswami]], [[K. Sundaram]], [[Parithi Ilamvazhuthi]], and [[C. Chittibabu]].<ref name=":2" /> During his three-year stay in Chennai, Ramachandran worked with Chittibabu to erect a number of DMK flagpoles as instructed by the party's former president [[M. Karunanidhi]]. When Karunanidhi came to hoist the flag on these poles, he saw the name "Gorimedu Ramachandran" in the inscriptions beneath them and became curious to know about him. Eventually, Ramachandran met Karunanidhi and then his son [[M. K. Stalin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=சேலம் மேயராக வெற்றி வாகை சூடும் ராமச்சந்திரன்! - யார் இவர்? |url=https://tamil.samayam.com/latest-news/salem/dmk-candidate-ramachandran-has-been-declared-for-the-post-of-mayor-in-salem-corporation-/articleshow/89967626.cms |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Samayam Tamil |language=ta}}</ref>

=== Posts held in the party ===
After his return to Salem, Ramachandran resumed his partywork as member of the DMK's branch executive committee and branch secretary.<ref name=":2" /> In 1984, upon the recommendation of [[A. L. Thangavel]] (then DMK union secretary for Salem District) Ramachandran was appointed by [[Veerapandy S. Arumugam]] (then Salem District secretary) as the party's representative for [[Salem district]]. After some time, he became the party treasurer for [[Hastampatti]] area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=சேலம் மேயராக வெற்றி வாகை சூடும் ராமச்சந்திரன்! - யார் இவர்? |url=https://tamil.samayam.com/latest-news/salem/dmk-candidate-ramachandran-has-been-declared-for-the-post-of-mayor-in-salem-corporation-/articleshow/89967626.cms |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Samayam Tamil |language=ta}}</ref>

After the death of Veerapandy S. Arumugam in 2012, his successor [[R. Rajendran (DMK politician)|R. Rajendran]] (secretary of Salem Central District DMK), appointed Ramachandran as [[Hastampatti]] area secretary. Additionally, he became the secretary of the [[Parent teacher association#India|Parent teacher association]] at Kamarajar Girls Higher Secondary School, Manakkadu.<ref name=":0" />

=== 2022 civic polls ===
In the [[2022 Tamil Nadu urban local body elections|February 2022 Tamil Nadu urban local body elections]], Ramachandran contested in Ward 6 of the [[Salem City Municipal Corporation]]. He defeated his nearest rival Vishnu Parthiban (of the [[Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam|AMMK]]) by a margin of 1,068 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=சேலம் மாநகராட்சி தேர்தலில் 23 வார்டுகளில் பாஜகவுக்கு மூன்றாமிடம்: ஏழு வார்டுகளில் 3-ம் இடத்துக்கு சென்ற அதிமுக |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/tamilnadu/770937-salem-election.html |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref> Consequently, Ramachandran took oath as councillor on 2 March. The next day, the DMK's leadership declared him as its mayoral candidate for indirect election to the post. As no other candidate from the elected councillors filed their nomination for Mayorship, Ramachandran was elected unopposed to the post. He was sworn in as the sixth Mayor of Salem on 4 March, along with [[M. Saradha Devi]] ([[Indian National Congress|INC]] councillor from Ward 7) as his deputy.<ref name=":1" />

== Mayorship (2022-) ==
Upon taking charge as Mayor, Ramachandran indicated that his focus would be on providing basic amenities such as water, drainage and road facilities.<ref name=":1" /> Later, he also mentioned the redeveloping of [[Panamarathupatti]] lake as one of his goals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijayakumar |first=Vignesh |date=2022-03-14 |title=Will strive to make Salem city self-sufficient, says Mayor |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/will-strive-to-make-salem-city-self-sufficient-says-mayor/article65217178.ece |access-date=2022-03-14 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Ramachandran is married to Meenatchi. The couple has a son named Sudarsan Babu and a daughter named Sumithra.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

Sudarsan Babu is a regional manager in [[Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation]]. Sumithra is a teacher at Government Higher Secondary School, [[Kannankurichi]].<ref name=":2" />

== See also ==
* [[List of mayors of Salem, Tamil Nadu]]
* [[Salem City Municipal Corporation]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramachandran, A.}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Salem district]]
[[Category:Mayors of places in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Mayors of Salem]]
[[Category:Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politicians]]

A. Ramachandran politician-262983 - Revision history

ViolaCnr7137989 at 02:18, 1 April 2026