Edappadi K. Palaniswami


Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami, is an Indian politician serving as the 7th and current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu since 16 February 2017. He is the joint coordinator of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He also serving in the government of Tamil Nadu as Minister of Highways and Minor Ports since 16 May 2011. In the 1998 election he was elected as Member of Parliament, representing Tiruchengodu constituency in the 12th Lok Sabha.

Early and personal life

Palaniswami was born on 12 May 1954 at Anthiyur, Anthiyur taluk, Erode district, Madras State in an agricultural family. His father, Karuppa Gounder, worked in agriculture and his mother, Thavasi Amma, was a housewife.After graduating school, he joined B.Sc degree in Sri Vasavi College in 1976 and uncompleted. He is married to Radha and has one child, Mithun Kumar. Palaniswami and his wife resides in the official residence of the Chief Minister at Chennai.

Political career

Edappadi K. Palaniswami entered politics as the volunteer of AIADMK in 1974. Later he became the key member of the party in Salem district. He was elected to Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016 from Edappadi constituency. He also won the 1998 election and elected as Member of Parliament, representing Tiruchengodu constituency in the 12th Lok Sabha. He is the Minister of Highways and Minor Ports in the J. Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam and in his own ministry from 2011.

Chief Minister

Edappadi K. Palaniswami was selected by the AIADMK as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in February 2017, following the resignation of O. Panneerselvam, who became chief minister after the demise of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa who won the 2016 Legislative Assembly election as CM candidate of AIADMK. He was sworn in on 16 February 2017 before a crowd of party workers, along with his 32-member cabinet. Palaniswami also holds the charge of Home, Prohibition & Excise Departments along with the other portfolios normally held by the Chief Ministers, and not mentioned elsewhere. He is elected from Edappadi constituency. During his reign, he introduced various schemes like Kudimaramaththu Work, FAME India scheme and Amma Patrol was introduced in Tamil Nadu to ascertain the security of women and children in public places. Based on his background of being an agriculturist and having grown in an agriculture family, he has expressed interest in promoting Crop rotation, that has been welcome by farming community.

Elections contested and positions held

Lok Sabha elections

Tamil Nadu Legislative elections

Posts in Parliament of India

Posts in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

Picture Gallery