| Office | Cabinet Minister Government of Tamil Nadu
|
|---|---|
| Office | Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
|
| Predecessor | Edappadi K. Palaniswami
|
| Born | 1951-3-15 (age 75) |
| Born | Koovanur, Manalurpet, Kallakurichi, Madras State, (now Tamil Nadu), India
|
| Political party |  Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (from 1997)
|
| Spouse | Sankari Velu (Known as Jeeva Velu) |
| Children | 1.Dr.E.V.V.Kamban (State Vice President of DMK Medical Wing) 2.Er.E.V.V.Kumaran |
| Alma mater | Annamalai University (MA, History) |
| Occupation | Politician, Founder of Saraswathy Ammal Educational Trust
|
Ethirajulu Vajjaravelu or E. V. Velu (born 15 March 1951) is an Indian senior politician who has been serving as the Minister of Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports in the M. K. Stalin ministry of the state of Tamil Nadu since 2021. He formerly served as the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the state under M. Karunanidhi (2006–2011).
Velu has been elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party candidate from Thandarambattu constituency, in 1984. In 1997, he joined DMK (at a time when the MGR Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam split from the AIADMK to ally with the BJP) and got elected from the same constituency in 2001[1] and 2006.[2] He was subsequently elected twice from Tiruvannamalai constituency as a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate in 2011[3] and 2016 and 2021.[4]
Background
Velu was born in Koovanur near Manalurpet in Kallakurichi district in a Telugu Gavara Balija family on 15 March 1951.[5] His parents Ethirajulu and Saraswati Ammal were farmers. He holds a master's degree in history from Annamalai University. Velu started out as a pump repairman but later joined a bus company named as Dhamodharan Bus Services in the Tiruvannamalai district as a bus conductor. An admirer of M. G. Ramachandran, he became an AIADMK member on its inception, becoming its deputy organizer for Thandarambattu.[6][7][8][9]
He was involved in film distribution along with politics and acted in a couple of films like Thilakam.[6]
Controversies
"India" comment
After the DMK joined the I.N.D.I.A political alliance, Velu gave a speech regarding the word "India", and was questioned about the impact the word had on the people of Tamil Nadu.
Translation of speech:[10][11] Template:Blockquote
Velu later said the BJP had misquoted his statements, after the party raised objections against the speech in the Lok Sabha. He clarified that he was only talking about how some people in the state had perceived the word in the past, "I was explaining what the situation was earlier and what the situation is now. I mentioned that once upon we did not have impactful feelings towards “India” - but that was once upon a time," he said. Further adding that the current DMK Dravidian ideology has the responsibility to protect India and M. K. Stalin plays a crucial role in it.[10]
Elections Contested and results
| Elections | Constituency | Party | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Thandarambattu | ADMK | Won |
| 2001 | Thandarambattu | DMK | Won |
| 2006 | Thandarambattu | DMK | Won |
| 2011 | Tiruvannamalai | DMK | Won |
| 2016 | Tiruvannamalai | DMK | Won |
| 2021 | Tiruvannamalai | DMK | Won |
References
- ↑ Statistical Report on General Election 2001 for the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India.
- ↑ Statistical Report on General Election 2006 for the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India.
- ↑ Statistical Report on General Election 2011 for the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India.
- ↑ List of successful candidates. Election Commission of India.
- ↑
- E. V. Velu profile at TN government website. Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu.
- மெக்கானிக் முதல் 'மாண்புமிகு' வரை... - எ.வ.வேலு 'வல்லமை' வரலாறு!. இந்து தமிழ் திசை(November 10, 2023).
- Template:Cite AV media
- களைகட்டும் தேர்தல் பந்தயம்!. தினமலர் நாளிதழ் (மே 01, 2021).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Minister EV Velu | சினிமா ஆசை கண்டக்டர் Jayalalithaa -வை தவிக்க வைத்த கதை! | DMK | Mr Minister. YouTube.
- ↑ All you need to know about minister EV Velu: From bus conductor to AIADMK to DMK. Samayam.
- ↑ திமுக வேட்பாளர் சுயவிவரம். Dinamani. 14 April 2016.
- ↑ களைகட்டும் தேர்தல் பந்தயம்!. Dinamalar(1 May 2021).Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 TN minister Velu says Modi misquoted his speech. Times of India.
- ↑ Expunge Modi, Irani's remarks on TN minister Velu: DMK urges Lok Sabha speaker. The Print.
Template:Government of Tamil Nadu Template:Council of Ministers of Tamil Nadu