Arcot N. Veeraswami

Arcot N. Veeraswami Biography

Arcot N. Veeraswami is a politician from Tamil Nadu, and prominent member of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He served as the Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, between 12 May 1994 and 26 December 2008. After that he served as the Headquarters Principal Secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam till 9 January 2015. A very prominent and senior most leader of the party, he served in cabinet position multiple times. He served as the Deputy Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly during 14 May 2001 – 21 January 2005, and a cabinet minister associated with different portfolios at different points of time.

He was born on 11 July 1937 in Kuppadichatham North Arcot district (Madras Presidency) Tamil Nadu. He is nicknamed Arcotar. His wife’s name is Kasthuri. Veerasamy has had a slow and steady rise in Tamil Nadu politics. He was a government servant, who worked as a clerk in the state electricity board before joining active politics. He was handpicked by C N Annadurai, founder of DMK party and gave him the ticket to state assembly in 1967 representing Arcot. He won the elections, and retained the same seat in 1971 state assembly elections too.

He became the treasurer of the party after the death of S. J. Sadiq Pasha, and emerged as the third most popular leader of DMK in the 1980s, after Karunanidhi and K. Anbazhagan – the two senior most leaders. He has participated in several agitations and got arrested too. He won Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council) in 1977 and 1984, and state assembly elections in 1989 from Purasawalkam, followed by 1996, 2001 and 2006 representing Anna Nagar.

He was inducted to cabinet for the first time in 1989, and he served as Minister for Food till 1991. He served as Minister for Electricity and Health during 13 May 1996 – 13 May 2001 and Minister for Rural Industries during 13 May 2006 – 21 August 2007, under M. Karunanidhi.

Published: October 30, 2018

Updated: October 30, 2018