Tamil Nadu Ministers Report Significant Wealth Decline in Election Affidavits
Several prominent ministers and MLAs in Tamil Nadu, including Chief Minister M K Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, have reported a notable decrease in their declared personal wealth over the past five years, according to their latest election affidavits filed with the Election Commission of India.
Stalin Family Assets Show Substantial Drop
Chief Minister M K Stalin's financial disclosures reveal a decline in personal assets from approximately 7.2 crore rupees in 2021 to about 6.2 crore rupees in 2026. This reduction is primarily attributed to his formal dissociation from a land parcel owned by Anjugam Publications in Chennai's Kodambakkam area. This 1,825 square foot plot houses the office of the DMK's official mouthpiece, 'Murasoli'.
In 2024, Union Minister L Murugan alleged that this land was classified as Panchami land, which is specifically assigned to Scheduled Castes and legally transferable only within that community. The DMK strongly denied these allegations, asserting that the property was legitimately acquired from Parvathi Nair, who had purchased it from a German company.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has experienced an even more pronounced wealth reduction, with his declared assets dropping by nearly 25% compared to his previous affidavit. This decrease follows his exit from Red Giant Movies, which is now managed by his son, Inban Udhayanidhi, who serves as additional director, while his wife Kiruthiga remains an investor in the company.
Senior DMK Ministers Also Report Reduced Wealth
Senior DMK ministers EV Velu and I Periyasamy have similarly declared lower asset values in their current affidavits. Minister EV Velu has declared assets worth 13.2 crore rupees, while Minister I Periyasamy has reported assets valued at 5.9 crore rupees, both representing decreases from their previous election declarations.
Analysis of their affidavits indicates that both ministers have dissociated themselves from business entities that have faced searches by central investigative agencies. In 2021, Velu had invested 2.8 crore rupees in Arunai Motor Finance and Kavin Products. Following Income Tax searches in 2023 at locations connected to the Arunai Groups and his family, his 2026 affidavit no longer mentions these two entities.
Similarly, Periyasamy had declared investments in Irullapa Mills in his 2021 affidavit, but his 2026 filing contains no reference to the mill, which is currently under scrutiny by the Enforcement Directorate. Additionally, Periyasamy's vehicle fleet has been reduced to just one Toyota Glanza car, whereas in 2021 he owned both an Innova and an Ecosport.
Opposition Figures and Spousal Wealth Patterns
Former AIADMK minister Sellur K Raju has also reported a substantial wealth reduction, with his declared assets halving to approximately 50 lakh rupees. His filings show he is no longer associated with JJ Pharma and JJ Medicals, where he had invested close to 80 lakh rupees before 2021.
Interestingly, while the ministers themselves report declining wealth, the assets of their spouses have increased during the same period. This pattern extends to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, whose personal wealth has remained largely stable at around 47 lakh rupees in 2021 and 50 lakh rupees in 2026. However, his wife's wealth has significantly increased from 2.8 crore rupees to 5.6 crore rupees, with new additions including a farmhouse in Erode district.
The wealth declarations in election affidavits provide crucial transparency regarding the financial status of public representatives, though they represent self-reported figures subject to verification. These disclosures come amid ongoing political scrutiny and investigations into various business entities connected to political figures across party lines in Tamil Nadu.
