A. Ramachandran (politician)

Arumugam Ramachandran is an Indian politician and the incumbent Mayor of Salem.[2][3][4] A member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) since 1961, he has served in a number of posts in the DMK's Salem unit.[5][6][7]

A. Ramachandran
6th Mayor of Salem
Assumed office
4 March 2022
DeputyM. Saradha Devi
Preceded byS. Soundappan
Councillor,
Salem City Municipal Corporation
Assumed office
2 March 2022
ConstituencyWard 6
Personal details
Born1944 (age 79–80)
Salem, Madras Presidency, British India
NationalityTamil
Political party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1961-present)
SpouseMeenatchi
ChildrenSudharsan Babu (son)
Sumithra (daughter)
ParentArumugam (father)
Residence(s)Kannankurichi, Tamil Nadu, India
EducationSSLC
OccupationPolitician
Nickname(s)AR, Periyavar (elder)[1]

Early life

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Ramachandran was born to Arumugam of Gorimedu, Salem in 1944. He studied up to SSLC.[citation needed]

Politics

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Early years and recognition

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In 1961, Ramachandran joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), then headed by C.N. Annadurai.[8] He participated in many protests held by DMK and went to prison numerous times.[9] Later, he became close with senior DMK leaders such as Arcot N. Veeraswami, K. Sundaram, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, and C. Chittibabu.[8] During his three-year stay in Chennai, Ramachandran worked with Chittibabu to erect a number of DMK flagpoles as instructed by the party's former president M. Karunanidhi. When Karunanidhi came to hoist the flag on these poles, he saw the name "Gorimedu Ramachandran" in the inscriptions beneath them and became curious to know about him. Eventually, Ramachandran met Karunanidhi and then his son M. K. Stalin.[10]

Posts held in the party

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After his return to Salem, Ramachandran resumed his partywork as member of the DMK's branch executive committee and branch secretary.[8] In 1984, upon the recommendation of A. L. Thangavel (then DMK union secretary for Salem District) Ramachandran was appointed by Veerapandy S. Arumugam (then Salem District secretary) as the party's representative for Salem district. After some time, he became the party treasurer for Hastampatti area.[11]

After the death of Veerapandy S. Arumugam in 2012, his successor R. Rajendran (secretary of Salem Central District DMK), appointed Ramachandran as Hastampatti area secretary. Additionally, he became the secretary of the Parent teacher association at Kamarajar Girls Higher Secondary School, Manakkadu.[11]

2022 civic polls

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In the February 2022 Tamil Nadu urban local body elections, Ramachandran contested in Ward 6 of the Salem City Municipal Corporation. He defeated his nearest rival Vishnu Parthiban (of the AMMK) by a margin of 1,068 votes.[12] Consequently, Ramachandran took oath as councillor on 2 March. The next day, the DMK's leadership declared him as its mayoral candidate for indirect election to the post. As no other candidate from the elected councillors filed their nomination for Mayorship, Ramachandran was elected unopposed to the post. He was sworn in as the sixth Mayor of Salem on 4 March, along with M. Saradha Devi (INC councillor from Ward 7) as his deputy.[7]

Mayorship (2022-)

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Upon taking charge as Mayor, Ramachandran indicated that his focus would be on providing basic amenities such as water, drainage and road facilities.[7] Later, he also mentioned the redeveloping of Panamarathupatti lake as one of his goals.[13]

Personal life

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Ramachandran is married to Meenatchi. The couple has a son named Sudarsan Babu and a daughter named Sumithra.[citation needed]

Sudarsan Babu is a regional manager in Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. Sumithra is a teacher at Government Higher Secondary School, Kannankurichi.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "சேலம் மேயராக வெற்றி வாகை சூடும் ராமச்சந்திரன்! - யார் இவர்?". Samayam Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  2. ^ I, Shyamsundar (3 March 2022). "கருணாநிதியே பாராட்டியவர்! எடப்பாடி கோட்டையில் கொடி நடும் ராமச்சந்திரன்.. யார் இந்த சேலம் மேயர்?". tamil.oneindia.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Two DMK veterans in race for Salem city mayor post, party high command to have the final say - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  4. ^ "ramachandran: Ramachandran Sworn-in As Salem Mayor | Coimbatore News - Times of India". The Times of India. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Karunanidhi praised! Ramachandran planting flag at Edappadi Fort .. Who is the Mayor of Salem? | All you need to know about the new Salem Mayor". Time News. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Salem Mayor Candidate Ramachandran". www.patrikai.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Ramachandran takes charge as Salem Mayor". The Hindu. 4 March 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d "சேலம் மேயர் ஆகிறார் ராமச்சந்திரன்! காங்கிரசுக்கு துணை மேயர் பதவி!!". nakkheeran. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Know your Mayors: 11 of 20 posts reserved for women in Tamil Nadu". dtNext.in. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  10. ^ "சேலம் மேயராக வெற்றி வாகை சூடும் ராமச்சந்திரன்! - யார் இவர்?". Samayam Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  11. ^ a b "சேலம் மேயராக வெற்றி வாகை சூடும் ராமச்சந்திரன்! - யார் இவர்?". Samayam Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  12. ^ "சேலம் மாநகராட்சி தேர்தலில் 23 வார்டுகளில் பாஜகவுக்கு மூன்றாமிடம்: ஏழு வார்டுகளில் 3-ம் இடத்துக்கு சென்ற அதிமுக". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  13. ^ Vijayakumar, Vignesh (14 March 2022). "Will strive to make Salem city self-sufficient, says Mayor". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 March 2022.