Saidai Duraisamy
Saidai Sa. Duraisamy | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Chennai (office suspended due to post-poned local body elections) | |
| In office 25 October 2011 – 31 November 2016 | |
| Preceded by | M. Subramaniam |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 16, 1952 Karur district, Tamil Nadu |
| Political party | AIADMK |
| Spouse | Mallika Duraisamy |
| Children | One son |
| Residence(s) |
|
| Website | http://www.saidaiduraisamysmanidhaneyam.com |
Saidai Samiyappan Duraisamy (born 16 February 1952) is a South Indian politician and, as of 2011[update], is the incumbent Mayor of the Corporation of Chennai. He is the first All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate to become the Mayor of Chennai. He is the also the founder and Chairman of the Manidhaneyam, a free IAS and IPS coaching centre in Tamil Nadu.
He was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1984 from the Saidapet constituency.[citation needed] He stayed away from politics after the demise of M. G. Ramachandran.[citation needed]. Jayalalithaa has sprung a surprise ahead of the April 13 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. She has fielded an AIADMK veteran who has earned a name for himself by running a successful free coaching centre for IAS aspirants to take on the DMK's heir apparent M.K. Stalin.
Her choice of Saidai S. Duraisamy for the newly carved Kolathur assembly seat clearly shows that she wants to give the DMK heavyweight a run for his money.
A former AIADMK legislator of the MGR era, the dhoti-clad Duraisamy, 64, has proved to be a politician with a difference. During his heyday in politics, he was the powerful AIADMK district secretary in south Chennai. But then, for a long time, the amiable Duraisamy kept a low profile and engaged himself in charitable work.
To his credit, he never sought greener pastures and, now, patience and perseverance seem to have worked in his favour. Though it was expected that the seasoned politician would get the party ticket, his name did not figure in the first candidates' list released by 'Amma' last week. In the revised list, however, his name was the cynosure of all eyes and he is already on the campaign trail.
But, for this politico, the CM's seat was never a dream; becoming an IAS officer was. When he could not make it, he started helping aspirants, mostly from the poor sections, through his free coaching centre that he launched in 2006.
He contested the assembly elections as a candidate for the AIADMK in the Kolathur constituency, which he lost.[1] He contested the mayoral election of Chennai corporation, and became the first AIADMK mayor of the city on 21 October 2011. He won the election by a margin of over 5.19 lakh votes. He took the oath of office on 25 October 2011.[2][3]
References
- ^ "The Hindu States". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ "Corporation Result:Detailed". Tamil Nadu State Election Commission. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ^ "Saidai Duraisamy is Chennai Mayor". The Hindu. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011.