P. Veldurai

P. Veldurai (30 November 1949 – 24 October 2023) was an Indian politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as an Indian National Congress candidate from Cheranmadevi constituency in the 1996 and 2006 elections.^[1][2] P. Veldurai died on 24 October 2023, at the age of 73.^[3]

Controversy

P. Veldurai courted controversy during his tenure as MLA as in 2011 the Supreme Court held that his election from Cheranmahadevi constituency in May 2006 was illegal, null and void, as he was a registered government civil contractor at the time of filing nominations and his registration had not been cancelled as per law. Veldurai was asked to repay ₹ 21.58 lakh that he'd drawn as salary, which he contested in the court of law.^[4] Finally, he was subject of a landmark judgement of the Madras High Court on 26 February 2019 that held that Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as MLAs are liable to be asked to repay salaries and other emoluments, along with penalty, if a court of law declares their election to be illegal, null and void either before or after the completion of their tenure.^[5]

Electoral performance

2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Cheranmadevi^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	INC	P. Veldurai	48,527	43.72%	New
	AIADMK	P. H. Manoj Pandian	42,495	38.29%	−15.23
	DMDK	S. Rajendra Nathan	8,122	7.32%	New
	AIFB	A. Paramasivan	5,966	5.37%	New
	BSP	S. Udayakumar	1,920	1.73%	New
	BJP	P. Arumuganainar	1,626	1.46%	−40.27
	RLD	R. Achuthan	1,055	0.95%	New
	Independent	A. Paulrathinam	805	0.73%	New
Margin of victory			6,032	5.43%	−6.34%
Turnout			110,996	69.85%	9.52%
Registered electors			158,911
	INC gain from AIADMK		Swing	-9.79%

1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Cheranmadevi^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	TMC(M)	P. Veldurai	39,004	39.41%	New
	Independent	P. H. Pandian	26,897	27.18%	New
	AIADMK	M. R. Janarthanan	18,002	18.19%	−47.25
	CPI(M)	S. K. Palanichamy	6,296	6.36%	New
	Independent	S. Mariyasundaram	2,405	2.43%	New
	Independent	M. Susindran	2,179	2.20%	New
	BJP	S. Muthappa	1,985	2.01%	New
	Independent	M. Raj	629	0.64%	New
Margin of victory			12,107	12.23%	−25.77%
Turnout			98,977	71.69%	4.63%
Registered electors			145,196
	TMC(M) gain from AIADMK		Swing	-26.03%

1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Cheranmadevi^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	AIADMK	P. H. Pandian	26,113	27.06%	−40.39
	DMK	R. Avudaiappan	25,413	26.34%	−5.31
	INC	P. Veldurai	23,270	24.12%	New
	AIADMK	T. P. S. H. Amarnath Prapahar Ram Sait	20,409	21.15%	−46.3
Margin of victory			700	0.73%	−35.08%
Turnout			96,494	78.60%	0.92%
Registered electors			124,735
	AIADMK hold		Swing	-40.39%

References

1. 1996 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India
2. 2006 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India
3. Former Congress MLA from Cheranmahadevi dead
4. "HC orders disqualified MLA to refund salaries from 2006-11". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
5. S, Mohamed Imranullah (27 February 2019). "Disqualified legislators must refund salary: High Court". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
6. Election Commission of India. "2006 Election Statistical Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2006.
7. Election Commission of India. "1996 Election Statistical Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
8. Election Commission of India. "Statistical Report on General Election 1989" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2009.