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{{about|the DMK MLA and minister from Samayanallur|the DMK MLA for Kolathur, Tamil Nadu|Selvaraj}}
{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{use Indian English|date=May 2017}}

'''S. Selvaraj''' (died 25 November 2012) was an Indian politician and a minister in the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]-led [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] between 1996 and 2001.

== Political career ==
Selvaraj was elected to the [[Tamil Nadu legislative assembly]] as a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate from [[Samayanallur (State Assembly Constituency)|Samayanallur constituency]] in the [[1996 Tamil Nadu state assembly election|1996 election]]. The constituency was reserved for candidates from the [[Scheduled Castes]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Election Commission of India |page=8 |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1996/StatisticalReport-TN96.pdf |title=Statistical Report on General Election 1996 for the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu |accessdate=2017-05-06}}</ref>

Selvaraj was a [[Dalit]] and served as Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, Hill Tribes and Bonded Labour during the DMK-led government of 1996-2001.<ref name="deccanherald">{{cite news |work=Deccan Herald |title=Former DMK minister Selvaraj dead |date=25 November 2012 |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/294427/former-dmk-minister-selvaraj-dead.html |accessdate=2017-05-08}}</ref> In October 1998, he was one of four DMK ministers sent to help relieve tensions in [[Ramanathapuram district]] after violence between Dalits and members of the [[Thevar]] [[Caste system in India|caste]] had resulted in 11 deaths.<ref>{{cite news |work=Frontline |volume=15 |issue=22 |date=6 November 1998 |title=Caste-based mobilisation and violence |first=S. |last=Viswanathan |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1522/15220360.htm |accessdate=2017-05-08}}</ref> Later, in the [[2001 Tamil Nadu state assembly election|2001 elections]], the perceived pro-Dalit stance of the DMK resulted in a backlash by voters from the [[Other Backwards Class]]es and Selvaraj's assembly seat was among those lost.<ref>{{cite news |title= Dalit card cost DMK OBC vote bank |first=R. |last=Ilangovan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/05/15/stories/0415223b.htm |work= [[The Hindu]] |date= 2001-05-15 |accessdate=2017-05-08}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

== Legal issues ==
There was confusion in 2011 when Selvaraj and 27 other DMK members were arrested in relation to a charge dating from 2001 when they had protested against the arrest of [[Karunanidhi]], the former DMK [[Chief Minister (India)|Chief Minister]]. The defendants thought that the case had been withdrawn.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/28-DMK-men-to-appear-before-JMC/articleshow/11186938.cms? |title=28 DMK men to appear before JMC |date=21 December 2011 |work=The Times of India |accessdate=2017-05-08}}</ref> He had also been investigated in 2002 when the new Chief Minister, [[Jayalalithaa]] of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) targeted several officials from the prior DMK government whom she considered held assets that were disproportionate to their income. There were suggestions that Jayalalithaa was engaging in a political tit-for-tat related to court cases filed against AIADMK people by the DMK when that party had been in power.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Telegraph |title=DMK Smells Revenge in Raid Re-Run |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1020317/national.htm |first=M. R. |last=Venkatesh |accessdate=2017-05-08}}</ref> By July 2003, virtually all of the 24 ministers of the former DMK government were under investigation, and Selvaraj was one of three against whom [[chargesheet]]s had been issued.<ref>{{cite news |work=Deccan Herald |title=Vigilance raids at former DMK minister's houses |date=23 July 2003 |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july24/n3.asp |accessdate=2017-05-08}}</ref>

== Death ==
Selvaraj, who had been suffering ill-health due to a kidney problem, died on 25 November 2012, aged 66 or 67. He was cremated in his home village of [[Meenakshipuram Pudur]] and was survived by a son and two daughters.<ref name="deccanherald"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/india/20121126/2108591.html |title=DMK Leader Samayanallur Selvaraj cremated |date=26 November 2012 |work=WebIndia123 |accessdate=2017-05-08}}</ref> One of his daughters, [[B. Chithra Selvi]], was controversially nominated as a DMK candidate for the [[Manamadurai (State Assembly Constituency)|Manamadurai constituency]] in the [[2016 Tamil Nadu state assembly election|2016 state assembly election]]. Local party workers thought that she was unsuitable because she came from [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |title=Change Manamadurai candidate, say DMK workers |date=19 April 2016 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/change-manamadurai-candidate-say-dmk-workers/article8491848.ece |accessdate=2017-05-08}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Selvaraj, S.}}
[[Category:Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politicians]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the 11th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Dalit politicians]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]

S. Selvaraj - Revision history

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