Nainar Nagendran

Nainar Nagenthran
Cabinet Minister
Government of Tamil Nadu
In office
10 June 2002 – 12 May 2006
MinisterIndustries
Chief MinisterJ. Jayalalithaa
Preceded byS. M. Velusamy
Succeeded byM. Karunanidhi
ConstituencyTirunelveli
In office
2 March 2002 – 2 June 2003
MinisterElectricity
Chief MinisterJ. Jayalalithaa
Preceded byD. Jayakumar
Succeeded byD. Jayakumar
ConstituencyTirunelveli
In office
29 August 2002 – 12 November 2002
MinisterRural Industries
Chief MinisterJ. Jayalalithaa
Preceded byR. Vilvanathan
Succeeded byR. Vadivel
ConstituencyTirunelveli
In office
19 May 2001 – 2 March 2002
MinisterTransport
Chief Minister
Preceded byK. Ponmudy
Succeeded byNatham R. Viswanathan
ConstituencyTirunelveli
Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
12 May 2021 – 4 May 2026
Chief MinisterM. K. Stalin
Preceded byA. L. S. Lakshmanan
ConstituencyTirunelveli
In office
23 May 2011 – 21 May 2016
Chief Minister
Preceded byN. Malai Raja
Succeeded byA. L. S. Lakshmanan
ConstituencyTirunelveli
In office
22 May 2001 – 12 May 2006
Chief Minister
Preceded byA. L. Subramanian
Succeeded byN. Malai Raja
ConstituencyTirunelveli
President of the Bharatiya Janata Party – Tamil Nadu
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 April 2025
National PresidentJP Nadda
Nitin Nabin
Preceded byK. Annamalai
Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party – Tamil Nadu
In office
3 July 2020 – 12 April 2025
President
Personal details
Born (1960-10-16) 16 October 1960
Vadiveeswaram, Madras State, India
(present-day Tamil Nadu, India)
PartyBharatiya Janata Party
Other political
affiliations
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (until 2017)

Nainar Nagenthran (born 16 October 1960) is an Indian politician who is the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu (BJPTN), from 12 April 2025. From 19 May 2001 to 12 May 2006, he served as the minister of Tamil Nadu in the ministry led by former chief ministers of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa and O. Panneerselvam.

He is the current legislative leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He has won the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections from the Tirunelveli constituency in 2001 and 2011 as an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate and in 2021 as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.

Political career

He left the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party in August 2017 to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[1] He was one of several AIADMK party members to do so and soon after his move he was appointed a state-level BJP vice-president.[2]

As an AIADMK candidate, Nagendran was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Tirunelveli constituency in the 2001[3] and 2011 state assembly elections.[4] He lost the seat by 606 votes in the election of 2006[5] and in 2016, when the difference was 601. His opponent in the latter election was A. L. S. Lakshmanan of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a person he had beaten in 2011 by over 38,000 votes.[4]

Nagendran served variously as a Minister for Electricity, Industry and Transport during the AIADMK-led government of 2001–2006. He was not a member of the cabinet during the AIADMK government led by Jayalalithaa from 2011 but he said it was her death and the subsequent rudderless situation in which the party found itself that caused his move to the BJP in 2017.[6]

In 2021, as a BJP candidate Nagendran has been elected to Tamil Nadu state assembly from Tirunelveli constituency for the third time defeating the DMK candidate by a margin of 23,107 votes. In addition he has been also selected as the leader of BJP members in Tamil Nadu assembly.[1]

Disproportionate assets case

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption of Tamil Nadu conducted raids in 12 places belonging to Nagendran in various parts of Chennai, Kochi, and his native place of southern Tirunelveli district.[7] In 2006, an investigation revealed the accumulation of assets in excess of his income when he was a minister of Tamil Nadu. It also revealed that Nagendran bought properties, including gold jewellery and lands.[8] A chargesheet was filed in December 2010 against Nagendran, his wife and four other relatives under the Prevention of Corruption Act for a ₹3.9 crore disproportionate assets case by the Directorate of Vigilance.[9]

2023 Vadapalani Temple land-grabbing case

In April 2023, the anti-corruption non-governmental organisation Arappor Iyakkam submitted a formal complaint to the Tamil Nadu government alleging an illegal land transaction involving Nainar Nagendran's son, Nainar Balaji, the vice-president of the BJP's youth wing. The complaint alleged an attempt to illegally grab 1.30 acres of land belonging to Vadapalani Andavar Temple, located on Arcot Road in Virugambakkam, Chennai, valued at approximately ₹100 crore in collusion with the land mafia and government officers.[10][11] According to the complaint, a sale agreement worth ₹46 crore was executed in July 2022 between Nainar Balaji and an individual named Elayaraja while the Patta was originally under the names of Sundaramahalingam and Vasanta, but the revenue department illegally changed the patta to a deceased individual's name (Gulab Doss Narayan Doss) to facilitate the deal.[12][13] The organization claimed that Nainar Nagendran misused his position as an MLA to pressure or maneuver public servants within the revenue and registration departments into facilitate registering the land parcel in Chennai at Radhapuram sub-Registrar Office (SRO) in the Tirunelveli district in violation of registration procedures and relevant IPC procedures.[14][15]

An investigation overseen by the Tirunelveli Regional Deputy Inspector General of Registration confirmed prima facie evidence of fraud and procedural lapses.[16] On 10 July 2023, the state registration department officially cancelled the registration of land.[17]

2024 Election cash seizure case

During the 2024 Indian general election, on 24 April 2024, the Election Commission’s flying squad recovered ₹4 crore at Tambaram railway station from a train traveling from Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli. Three individuals were arrested in connection with the incident. The primary accused, Sathish, was identified as a BJP member and the manager of the Blue Diamond Hotel in Chennai, a business linked to Nagendran.[18][19][20] During interrogation, the accused stated that the money was being transported to Tirunelveli to distribute to voters under Nagendran’s explicit directives.[21] Police recovered a copy of Nagendran's identity proof from the accused and noted that the men used an Emergency Quota (EQ) train ticket booking request written on Nagendran’s official letterhead.[22][23]

While the Income Tax Department was initially alerted, the case was formally transferred to the CB-CID Metro wing.[24] By mid-2025, CB-CID investigations escalated. The agency presented evidence in court revealing a hawala network involving multiple top-tier Tamil Nadu BJP functionaries. Call data records (CDRs) confirmed coordination between Nagendran and several state BJP leaders including BJP State Organisation General Secretary Kesava Vinayagam, BJP State Treasurer S.R. Sekhar, and the party's Industrial Wing president Govardhan.[25][26][27] Investigators also unearthed a parallel route where nearly ₹1 crore of the operation's cash had been successfully exchanged for 1.5 kilograms of gold.[28]

Controversies

Nainar Nagendran has sent death threats against acclaimed Tamil lyricist and writer Vairamuthu in January 2018 for his controversial remarks on Andal. He has announced that BJP leaders are ready to award a cash reward of ₹10 crore[29] if anyone slays and chops the tongue of Vairamuthu. He also said there should be no hesitation in killing even those who speak ill of Hinduism.[30][31] This created a giant controversy in Tamil Nadu.[32] Later, he was arrested together with Hindu Munnani state vice-president, V. C. Jayabalan, for provocative hate speech that would cause divisiveness among the people and posed a threat to national unity.[33]

On 15 August 2026, Nagendran made a personal remark involving the mother of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at BJP's party headquarters in Chennai. Responding to an earlier "where is your father" jibe made by Vijay in the Assembly regarding DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, Nagendran stated that instead of searching for a father in the Legislative Assembly, one should go home and ask their mother to know who the father is.[34][35] The comment drew widespread condemnation across political lines including BJP vice president Khushbu Sundar and former BJP state chief K. Annamalai.[36][37] A complaint was lodged against Nagendran at the Director General of Police (DGP) office by a woman advocate seeking police action for public misconduct and defamation.[38] Nagendran issued a clarification stating that his speech had been twisted and misrepresented for political gain.[39]

Elections contested and positions held

Lok Sabha elections

Elections Lok Sabha Constituency Political party Result Vote percentage Opposition
Candidate Political party Vote percentage
201917thRamanathapuramBJPLost32.13%K. NavaskaniIUML44.05%
202418thTirunelveli31.54%C. Robert BruceINC47.06%

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections

Elections Assembly Constituency Political party Result Vote percentage Opposition
Candidate Political party Vote percentage
2001 12th Tirunelveli AIADMK Won 40.93% A. L. Subramanian DMK 40.24%
2006 13th Lost 45.42% N. Malai Raja 45.85%
2011 14th Won 54.81% A. L. S. Lakshmanan 30.34%
2016 15th Lost 42.81% 43.13%
2021 16th BJP Won 46.70% 35.01%
2026 17th Sattur Lost 28.21% A. Kadarkarairaj 31.23%

Positions in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

Elections Position Elected constituency Term in office
Assumed office Left office Time in office
2001 Minister for Transport Tirunelveli 19 May 2001 2 March 2002 287 days
2001 Minister for Electricity Tirunelveli 2 March 2002 9 June 2002 99 days
2001 Minister for Electricity and Industries Tirunelveli 10 June 2002 28 August 2002 79 days
2001 Minister for Electricity and Industries and Rural Industries Tirunelveli 29 August 2002 12 November 2002 75 days
2001 Minister for Electricity and Industries Tirunelveli 13 November 2002 2 June 2003 201 days
2001 Minister for Industries Tirunelveli 3 June 2003 12 May 2006 2 years, 343 days
2011 Member of the Legislative Assembly Tirunelveli 23 May 2011 21 May 2016 4 years, 364 days
2021 Member of the Legislative Assembly Tirunelveli 11 May 2021 10 May 2026 4 years, 364 days

References

  1. 1 2 Ramakrishnan, T. (27 August 2017). "Prominent AIADMK figures join BJP". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Jesudasan, Dennis S. (20 November 2017). "BJP rewards entrants from other parties". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "2001 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India" (PDF).
  4. 1 2 "DMK, allies make a comeback in Tirunelveli district". The Hindu. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "Nainar Nagendran thanks voters". The Hindu. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Former AIADMK minister Nainar Nagendran, 14 others join BJP in presence of Amit Shah". India Today. 27 August 2017. Archived from the original on 11 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "DVAC raids former AIADMK ministers' houses, firms". www.oneindia.com. 27 October 2006.
  8. ↑ "சொத்துக்குவிப்பு வழக்கில் நயினார் நாகேந்திரனுக்கு குற்றப்பத்திரிக்கை நகல்". tamil.oneindia.com. 16 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Chargesheet filed against former AIADMK minister". Hindustan Times. 4 December 2010.
  10. ↑ https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/Jul/21/mla-sons-rs-100-crore-land-deal-cancelled-in-tn-2596991.html
  11. ↑ https://www.etvbharat.com/english/state/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-bjp-leader-nainar-balaji-accused-of-grabbing-temple-land-worth-rs-100-crore-probe-ordered/na20230720173637886886057
  12. ↑ https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/Jul/11/rs-100-crore-land-sale-involving-bjp-mlas-son-put-on-hold-in-tn-2593592.html
  13. ↑ https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/arappor-iyakkam-complains-about-land-scam-in-virugambakkam/article66728529.ece
  14. ↑ https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-nadu/news/the-arappor-iyakkam-has-accused-nayanar-nagendran-of-corruption/articleshow/99438813.cms
  15. ↑ https://www.etvbharat.com/tamil/tamil-nadu/state/chennai/bjp-mla-nainar-nagendran-son-fraudulent-deed-registration-the-rs-100-crore-worth-property-arappor-iyakkam-has-complained/tamil-nadu20230413102429411411436
  16. ↑ https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/bjp-mla-nainars-son-land-registration-cancelled-arappor-seeks-fir-725393
  17. ↑ https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/land-registration-of-tamil-nadu-legislators-son-cancelled-over-irregularities-2409179-2023-07-20
  18. ↑ Staff, T. N. M. (7 April 2024). "EC team seizes Rs 4 crore allegedly belonging to BJP candidate Nainar Nagendran". The News Minute. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  19. ↑ "Gold trail leads to revival of 'cash-for-votes' case against Tamil Nadu BJP chief". The Indian Express. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  20. ↑ Service, Express News (24 April 2024). "Rs 4 crore seizure: Nainar Nagendran's relative and staff appear before Tambaram police". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  21. ↑ https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Apr/07/three-held-with-rs-398cr-in-tn-allege-bjp-candidate-directed-cash-to-voters-dmk-urges-eci-action
  22. ↑ https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/ec-team-seizes-rs-4-crore-allegedly-belonging-to-bjp-candidate-nainar-nagendran
  23. ↑ https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/cb-cid-probe-ordered-into-seizure-of-398-crore-linked-to-bjp-leader-nainar-nagenthran/article68110418.ece
  24. ↑ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rs-4cr-cash-seized-from-3-persons-at-tambaram-railway-station-in-tn/articleshow/109113311.cms
  25. ↑ https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gold-trail-revival-cash-for-votes-case-tamil-nadu-bjp-chief-10132038/
  26. ↑ https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-cb-cid-questions-bjp-treasurer-over-seizure-of-rs-4-crore-before-polls
  27. ↑ https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/sc-issues-notice-to-tn-bjp-leader-kesava-vinayagam-in-rs-4-crore-cash-seizure-case-794999
  28. ↑ https://www.dtnext.in/news/chennai/rs-4-crore-cash-seizure-case-money-traced-to-sowcarpet-jeweller-say-cops-795979
  29. ↑ "Congress says Bhupen Borah withdrew resignation, he says 'sought time to reconsider' - What we know so far". mint. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  30. ↑ Jagannath, G. (19 January 2018). "Now, a death threat against Vairamuthu". DNA India. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  31. ↑ "Former minister announces 10 crore to cut Vairamuthu's tongue - Tamil News". IndiaGlitz.com. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  32. ↑ Akilan, Mayura (17 January 2018). "வைரமுத்துவின் நாவை அறுத்தால் ரூ.10 லட்சம் பரிசு: நயினார் நாகேந்திரன் மிரட்டல்". tamil.oneindia.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  33. ↑ Ananth, M. K. (19 January 2018). "BJP leader Nainar Nagendran, five others booked for hate speeches | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  34. ↑ Deshpande, Anagha (15 August 2026). "'Ask the mother who the father is': Tamil Nadu BJP chief's remark on CM Vijay sparks row". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  35. ↑ Ponnusamy, Mahalingam (15 August 2026). "Nainar Nagendran's remarks on CM Vijay's mother spark political row". The Federal. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  36. ↑ VM மன்சூர் கைரி, சே. பாலாஜி (16 August 2026). "Khushbu has condemned Nainar Nagendran's remarks regarding the CM vijay" (in Tamil). Vikatan. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  37. ↑ "'Ask the mother who the father is': BJP's Nainar Nagendran sparks political row over CM Vijay remark; clarifies but too late". thestatesman. 16 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  38. ↑ Bose, Subash Chandra (15 August 2026). "TN BJP chief Nainar Nagendran's misogynist remark sparks political storm; Annamalai, Manickam Tagore call for decency". The SouthFirst. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "BJP on damage control? Nainar Nagendran clarifies 'ask your mother' jibe against CM Vijay; says 'I didn't target anyone'". The Week. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
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