V. Vaithilingam: Difference between revisions

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{{BLP sources|date=November 2016}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = V.Vaithilingam
| name = V. Vaithilingam
| birth_name = Vaithilingam
| birth_name = Vaithilingam
| image = Vaithilingam.jpg
| image = Vaithilingam.jpg
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| birth_place =[[Cuddalore]], [[Madras State]], [[India]]
| birth_place =[[Cuddalore]], [[Madras State]], [[India]]
| residence =[[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]  
| residence =[[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]  
| office           = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]  
| office         = President of [[Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee]]
| term_start       = 23 May 2019
| term_start    = {{Start date|df=y|2023|06|09}}
| term_end          =
| term_end =
| majority         = 1,97,025 (24.91%)
| predecessor    = [[A. V. Subramanian]]
| predecessor       = [[R. Radhakrishnan]]
| successor      =
| constituency      = [[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)|Puducherry]]
| office1          = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]  
| office1           = [[Chief Minister of Puducherry]]
| term_start1       = 23 May 2019
| term_start1      = 4 July 1991
| term_end1        =
| term_end1         =  13 May 1996
| majority1         = 136,516 (16.90%)
| predecessor1 = M. D. R. Ramachandran
| predecessor1       = [[R. Radhakrishnan (politician, born 1971)|R. Radhakrishnan]]
| successor1 = [[R. V. Janakiraman]]
| constituency1    = [[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)|Puducherry]]
| term_start2       =  4 September 2008
| office2           = 6th [[Chief Minister of Puducherry]]
| term_end2         = 15 May 2011
| term_start2      = 4 July 1991
| predecessor2 = [[N. Rangaswamy]]
| term_end2         =  13 May 1996
| successor2 = [[N. Rangaswamy]]
| predecessor2 = M. D. R. Ramachandran
| office3 = [[Speaker of Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]
| successor2 = [[R. V. Janakiraman]]
| term_start3 = 12 June 2016
|term_start3       =  4 September 2008
| term_end3 = 21 March 2019
| term_end3         = 15 May 2011
| deputy3 = V.P. Sivakolundu
| predecessor3 = [[N. Rangaswamy]]
| constituency3 = [[Kamaraj Nagar (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Kamaraj Nagar]]  
| successor3 = [[N. Rangaswamy]]
| office4 = [[Speaker of Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start4 = 12 June 2016
| term_end4 = 21 March 2019
| deputy4 = V.P. Sivakolundu
| constituency4 = [[Kamaraj Nagar (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Kamaraj Nagar]]  


| office4 = Member of the [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]
| office5 = Member of the [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency4 = [[Kamaraj Nagar (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Kamaraj Nagar]]
| constituency5 = [[Kamaraj Nagar (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Kamaraj Nagar]]
| term_start4 = 2011
| term_start5 = 13 May 2011
| predecessor4 = ''New constituency''
| predecessor5 = ''New constituency''
| term_end4 = 2019
| term_end5 = 23 May 2019
| successor4 = A. Johnkumar
| successor5 = A. Johnkumar


| constituency5 = [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]]
| constituency6 = [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]]
| term_start5 = 1985
| term_start6 = 13 May 1985
| predecessor5 = R. Subbaraya Gounder
| predecessor6 = R. Subbaraya Gounder
| term_end5 = 2011
| term_end6 = 13 May 2011
| successor5 = L. Periyasamy
| successor6 = L. Periyasamy


| party =[[Indian National Congress]]
| party =[[Indian National Congress]]
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|alma_mater=[[Loyola College, Chennai]]
|alma_mater=[[Loyola College, Chennai]]
}}
}}
'''V. Vaithilingam''' (born 5 October 1950) is an Indian politician, belonging to [[Indian National Congress]], who currently represents [[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)|Puducherry]] in the [[Lok Sabha]]. He is former [[Chief Minister]] of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. He held the position as 11th Chief Minister of Puducherry from 1991 to 1996 and 14th Chief Minister of Puducherry again from 2008 to 2011. He is a senior legislator serving eight consecutive terms.
'''V. Vaithilingam''' (born 5 October 1950) is an Indian politician belonging to the [[Indian National Congress]], who currently represents [[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)|Puducherry]] in the [[Lok Sabha]]. He held the position as the 11th [[Chief Minister of Pondicherry]] from 1991 to 1996 and the 16th Chief Minister of Puducherry again from 2008 to 2011. He is a senior legislator serving eight consecutive terms.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2023-06-09 |title=Lok Sabha MP V Vaithilingam appointed as president of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/puducherry/lok-sabha-mp-v-vaithilingam-appointed-as-president-of-puducherry-pradesh-congress-committee/articleshow/100884277.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-08-17 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>


He is known for the family politics in Puducherry. His paternal grandfather late Vaithilingam Reddiar was the Mayor of Nettappakkam commune during the French rule in Puducherry and his father [[V. Venkatasubha Reddiar]] was also a Chief Minister of Puducherry. He headed the Puducherry Government from 1991 to 1996 and the Congress Legislative party from 1991 to 2000. His priorities as Chief Minister was to minimize the budget deficit, increase private sector participation in public transport, improve health care system. He became Chief Minister at the age of 40.
He headed the Pondicherry Government from 1991 to 1996 and the Congress Legislative party from 1991 to 2000. His priorities as Chief Minister were to minimize the budget deficit, increase private sector participation in public transport, and improve the health care system. He first became Chief Minister at the age of 40, making him the second youngest Chief Minister of Puducherry.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2016-05-18 |title=V Vaithilingam: Will Puducherry give him a chance to be CM again? |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections-2016/puducherry-elections-2016/news/v-vaithilingam-will-puducherry-give-him-a-chance-to-be-cm-again/articleshow/52327570.cms |access-date=2023-08-17 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>


== Early life ==
== Early life ==


He was born at Cuddalore and was raised in his native home Madukarai, [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. After completing his schooling, he went to [[Loyola College, Chennai|Loyola College]] in Chennai and later went to Madukkarai to take care of his family farms. In 1969, Vaithilingam married Miss Sasikala. From an early age, he developed exceptional leadership skills, an example of which was his role as the Chairman of Land Development Bank of Puducherry State.
He was born in Cuddalore and was raised in his native home Madukarai, [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. After completing his schooling, he went to [[Loyola College, Chennai|Loyola College]] in Chennai and later went to Madukkarai to take care of his family farms. In 1969, Vaithilingam married Miss Sasikala. From an early age, he developed exceptional leadership skills, an example of which was his role as the Chairman of Land Development Bank of Puducherry State.
 
The Vaithilingam family is known for their work as [[freedom fighter]]s against French rule.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-10 |title=Multiple challenges ahead of V. Vaithilingam, new chief of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/multiple-challenges-ahead-of-v-vaithilingam-new-chief-of-puducherry-pradesh-congress-committee/article66953737.ece |access-date=2023-08-17 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> His paternal grandfather late Vaithilingam Reddiar was the Mayor of [[Nettapakkam]] commune during the French rule in Puducherry. His father [[V. Venkatasubha Reddiar]] was also a [[Chief Minister of Pondicherry]].


== Political career ==
== Political career ==


In 1980, at the age of 30, he ran for the Legislative Assembly and lost with a narrow margin of 90 odd votes. In 1985, Vaithilingam won to become Public Works and Power Minister. He became familiar among the Congress Party members. From 1991 to 1996 he served as the Chief minister of Pondicherry, under his administration, Pondicherry saw a drastic growth in the industrial and education sector. He advocated smaller government and greater participation of private sector. Vaithilingam also benefited from the management of the economy and the liberalization policies followed by Prime Minister  
In 1980, at the age of 30, he ran for the Legislative Assembly and lost by a narrow margin of 90 odd votes. In 1985, Vaithilingam was elected become Public Works and Power Minister, which he served until 1990.<ref name=":1" /> From 1991 to 1996 he served as the Chief Minister of Pondicherry. Under his administration, Pondicherry saw a drastic growth in the industrial and education sector. He advocated smaller government and greater participation of the private sector. Vaithilingam also benefited from the management of the economy and the liberalization policies followed by Prime Minister  
[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]. In 1996 elections [[Indian National Congress]] became the single largest party, but their alliance lost the elections and he was appointed as the leader of opposition till 1999. In 2001 he won from Nettappakkam constituency but could not able to become chief minister because Vaithilingam was charged with an attempt to corrupt a fellow legislature and lost his congress leadership and N. rangaswamy was chosen as chief minister he served as an M.L.A in his cabinet till 2006. In 2006 he served as the minister of agriculture and industries till 2008. He was made the Chief minister in 2008 and he served till 2011. He became leader of opposition in 2011 election and he became speaker of the house in 2016 and resigned on 2019 after becoming member of parliament, Puducherry
[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]].  
 
In 1996 elections, the [[Indian National Congress]] became the single largest party, but their alliance lost the elections and Vaithilingam was appointed the Leader of Opposition until 1999. In 2001, he won from [[Nettapakkam]] constituency but was not able to serve as Chief Minister due to being falsely charged with an attempt to corrupt a fellow legislator. He was later acquitted on all charges.<ref name=":0" /> During this period, N. Rangaswamy was chosen as Chief Minister and Vaithilingam served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in his cabinet until 2006.  
 
From 2006 to 2008, Vaithilingam served as the Minister of Agriculture and Industries.<ref name=":1" /> He was elected Chief Minister in 2008 and he served until 2011. He became Leader of the Opposition in 2011 election and he became Speaker of the House in 2016, and resigned in 2019 after becoming a member of the [[Parliament of India]] for Puducherry.


In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections V. Vaithilingam was chosen to represent [[Indian National Congress]] party and he defeated [[All India N.R. Congress]] candidate Dr. Narayanasamy Kesavan (see [[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)]]).
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections V. Vaithilingam was chosen to represent the [[Indian National Congress]] party, and he defeated [[All India N.R. Congress]] candidate Dr. Narayanasamy Kesavan. In 2024 he was re elected defeating [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] candidate [[A. Namassivayam]].


==Electoral history==
==Electoral history==
*'''[[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]]'''
*'''[[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]]'''
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Post !! Constituency !! Party !! Opponent !! Opposition Party !! Result
! Year !! Post !! Constituency !! Party !! Opponent !! Opposition Party !! Result
|-
|-
| 1980 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]]|| [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] || [[Indian National Congress|INC]] || R. Subaraya Gounder || [[Janata Party|JNP]] || Lost
| 1980 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]]|| [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] || [[Indian National Congress|INC]] || R. Subaraya Gounder || [[Janata Party|JNP]] || {{Lost}}
|-
|-
| 1985 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]]|| [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] || [[Indian National Congress|INC]] || P. Ramamurthy || [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] || Won
| 1985 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]]|| [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] || [[Indian National Congress|INC]] || P. Ramamurthy || [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] || {{Won}}
|-
|-
| 1990 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]]|| [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] || [[Indian National Congress|INC]] || N. Devadass || [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] || Won
| 1990 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]]|| [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] || [[Indian National Congress|INC]] || N. Devadass || [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] || {{Won}}
|-
|-
| 1991 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] || [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| R. Subraya Gounder || [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] || Won
| 1991 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] || [[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| R. Subraya Gounder || [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] || {{Won}}
|-
|-
| 1996 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| V. Muthunarayanan || Independent || Won
| 1996 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| V. Muthunarayanan || Independent || {{Won}}
|-
|-
| 2001 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| K. Dhanraju || [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]] || Won
| 2001 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| K. Dhanraju || [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]] || {{Won}}
|-
|-
| 2006 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| V. Muthunarayanan ||[[Puducherry Munnetra Congress|PMC]] || Won
| 2006 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Nettapakkam (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Nettapakkam]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| V. Muthunarayanan ||[[Puducherry Munnetra Congress|PMC]] || {{Won}}
|-
|-
| 2011|| [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Kamaraj Nagar (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Kamaraj Nagar]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| Nara Kalainathan || [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] || Won
| 2011|| [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Kamaraj Nagar (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Kamaraj Nagar]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| Nara Kalainathan || [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] || {{Won}}
|-
|-
| 2016 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Kamaraj Nagar (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Kamaraj Nagar]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| P. Ganesan || [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]] || Won
| 2016 || [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|M.L.A]] ||[[Kamaraj Nagar (Union Territory Assembly constituency)|Kamaraj Nagar]] ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| P. Ganesan || [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]] || {{Won}}
|}
|}


*'''[[Member of Parliament]]'''
*'''[[Member of Parliament]]'''
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Post !! Constituency !! Party !! Opponent !! Opposition Party !! Result
! Year !! Post !! Constituency !! Party !! Opponent !! Opposition Party !! Result
|-
|-
| 2019 || [[Member of Parliament (India)|M.P]] ||[[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)|Puducherry]]  ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| Dr. Narayanasamy Kesavan || [[All India N.R. Congress]] || Won
| [[2019 Indian general election|2019]]|| [[Member of Parliament (India)|M.P]] ||[[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)|Puducherry]]  ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| Dr. Narayanasamy Kesavan || [[All India N.R. Congress]] || {{Won}}
|-
| [[2024 Indian general election|2024]] || [[Member of Parliament (India)|M.P]] ||[[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)|Puducherry]]  ||[[Indian National Congress|INC]]|| [[A. Namassivayam]] || [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] || {{Won}}
|}
|}


== Comeback ==
== Comeback ==
Vaithilingam was charged with an attempt to corrupt a fellow legislator.<ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?203315 "The Defection Bazaar"], (''Outlook India''), 2 April 1997</ref> Although he was acquitted on all charges, Vaithilingam lost his leadership of the Congress Legislative party in 2000. He was for the sixth time elected to the legislature and served as Industries and Power Minister in N.Rangaswamy cabinet in 2006.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121021173333/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-04/india/27901371_1_office-and-secrecy-vaithilingam-ministers "Vaithilingam sworn in as Puducherry Chief Minister"], IST, PTI (''Times of India''), 4 September 2008.</ref>
Vaithilingam was falsely charged with an attempt to corrupt a fellow legislator.<ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?203315 "The Defection Bazaar"], (''Outlook India''), 2 April 1997</ref> Although he was found not guilty and acquitted on all charges, Vaithilingam lost his leadership of the Congress Legislative party in 2000. He was for the sixth time elected to the legislature and served as Industries and Power Minister in N.Rangaswamy cabinet in 2006.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121021173333/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-04/india/27901371_1_office-and-secrecy-vaithilingam-ministers "Vaithilingam sworn in as Puducherry Chief Minister"], IST, PTI (''Times of India''), 4 September 2008.</ref>


==Positions Held==
==Positions held==
{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-off}}
{{S-off}}
{{s-bef|before = D. Ramachandran}}
{{s-bef|before = D. Ramachandran}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Chief Minister of Puducherry]]|years =4 July 1991&ndash;13 May 1996}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Chief Minister of Pondicherry]]|years =4 July 1991&ndash;13 May 1996}}
{{s-aft|after=[[R.V. Janakiraman]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before = V.M.C. Ganapathy}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Leader of Opposition]] of [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly|Puducherry]]|years = 26 May 1996&ndash;21 March 2000}}
{{s-aft|after=[[R.V. Janakiraman]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[R.V. Janakiraman]]}}
|-
|-
Line 112: Line 127:
{{s-aft|after=[[N. Rangaswamy]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[N. Rangaswamy]]}}
|-
|-
{{s-bef|before = V.M.C. Ganapathy}}
{{s-bef|before = A.M.H. Nazeem}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Leader of Opposition]] of [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly|Puducherry]]|years = 26 May 1996&ndash;21 March 2000}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Leader of Opposition]] of [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly|Puducherry]]|years = 2011&ndash;2016}}
{{s-aft|after=[[R.V. Janakiraman]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[N. Rangaswamy]]}}
|-
|-
{{s-bef|before = V. Sabapathy}}
{{s-bef|before = V. Sabapathy}}
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[[Category:Chief ministers of Puducherry]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Puducherry]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition in Puducherry]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition in Puducherry]]
[[Category:People from Cuddalore district]]
[[Category:People from Cuddalore district]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Indian National Congress]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Indian National Congress]]
[[Category:People from Pondicherry]]
[[Category:People from Pondicherry]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Puducherry]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Puducherry]]
[[Category:Puducherry politicians]]
[[Category:Speakers of Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Speakers of Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:17th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 2016–2021]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 1985–1990]]
[[Category:Pondicherry MLAs 1985–1990]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 1990–1991]]
[[Category:Pondicherry MLAs 1990–1991]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:Pondicherry MLAs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 1996–2001]]
[[Category:Pondicherry MLAs 1996–2001]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 2001–2006]]
[[Category:Pondicherry MLAs 2001–2006]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 2006–2011]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 2006–2011]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 2011–2016]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 2011–2016]]
[[Category:Puducherry MLAs 2016–2021]]
[[Category:Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election]]

Latest revision as of 08:57, 20 March 2026


V. Vaithilingam
V. Vaithilingam at 27th Flower, Vegetable and Fruit Show, Pondicherry
President of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee
Assumed office
9 June 2023 (2023-06-09)
Preceded byA. V. Subramanian
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
23 May 2019
Preceded byR. Radhakrishnan
ConstituencyPuducherry
Majority136,516 (16.90%)
6th Chief Minister of Puducherry
In office
4 July 1991 – 13 May 1996
Preceded byM. D. R. Ramachandran
Succeeded byR. V. Janakiraman
In office
4 September 2008 – 15 May 2011
Preceded byN. Rangaswamy
Succeeded byN. Rangaswamy
Speaker of Puducherry Legislative Assembly
In office
12 June 2016 – 21 March 2019
DeputyV.P. Sivakolundu
ConstituencyKamaraj Nagar
Member of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly
In office
13 May 2011 – 23 May 2019
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byA. Johnkumar
ConstituencyKamaraj Nagar
In office
13 May 1985 – 13 May 2011
Preceded byR. Subbaraya Gounder
Succeeded byL. Periyasamy
ConstituencyNettapakkam
Personal details
Born
Vaithilingam

(1950-10-05) 5 October 1950 (age 75)
Cuddalore, Madras State, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse(s)Sasikala
Children1 son and 1 daughter
ResidencePondicherry, Puducherry
Alma materLoyola College, Chennai

V. Vaithilingam (born 5 October 1950) is an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress, who currently represents Puducherry in the Lok Sabha. He held the position as the 11th Chief Minister of Pondicherry from 1991 to 1996 and the 16th Chief Minister of Puducherry again from 2008 to 2011. He is a senior legislator serving eight consecutive terms.[1]

He headed the Pondicherry Government from 1991 to 1996 and the Congress Legislative party from 1991 to 2000. His priorities as Chief Minister were to minimize the budget deficit, increase private sector participation in public transport, and improve the health care system. He first became Chief Minister at the age of 40, making him the second youngest Chief Minister of Puducherry.[2]

Early life[edit | edit source]

He was born in Cuddalore and was raised in his native home Madukarai, Puducherry. After completing his schooling, he went to Loyola College in Chennai and later went to Madukkarai to take care of his family farms. In 1969, Vaithilingam married Miss Sasikala. From an early age, he developed exceptional leadership skills, an example of which was his role as the Chairman of Land Development Bank of Puducherry State.

The Vaithilingam family is known for their work as freedom fighters against French rule.[3] His paternal grandfather late Vaithilingam Reddiar was the Mayor of Nettapakkam commune during the French rule in Puducherry. His father V. Venkatasubha Reddiar was also a Chief Minister of Pondicherry.

Political career[edit | edit source]

In 1980, at the age of 30, he ran for the Legislative Assembly and lost by a narrow margin of 90 odd votes. In 1985, Vaithilingam was elected become Public Works and Power Minister, which he served until 1990.[1] From 1991 to 1996 he served as the Chief Minister of Pondicherry. Under his administration, Pondicherry saw a drastic growth in the industrial and education sector. He advocated smaller government and greater participation of the private sector. Vaithilingam also benefited from the management of the economy and the liberalization policies followed by Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao.

In 1996 elections, the Indian National Congress became the single largest party, but their alliance lost the elections and Vaithilingam was appointed the Leader of Opposition until 1999. In 2001, he won from Nettapakkam constituency but was not able to serve as Chief Minister due to being falsely charged with an attempt to corrupt a fellow legislator. He was later acquitted on all charges.[2] During this period, N. Rangaswamy was chosen as Chief Minister and Vaithilingam served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in his cabinet until 2006.

From 2006 to 2008, Vaithilingam served as the Minister of Agriculture and Industries.[1] He was elected Chief Minister in 2008 and he served until 2011. He became Leader of the Opposition in 2011 election and he became Speaker of the House in 2016, and resigned in 2019 after becoming a member of the Parliament of India for Puducherry.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections V. Vaithilingam was chosen to represent the Indian National Congress party, and he defeated All India N.R. Congress candidate Dr. Narayanasamy Kesavan. In 2024 he was re elected defeating Bharatiya Janata Party candidate A. Namassivayam.

Electoral history[edit | edit source]

Year Post Constituency Party Opponent Opposition Party Result
1980 M.L.A Nettapakkam INC R. Subaraya Gounder JNP Lost
1985 M.L.A Nettapakkam INC P. Ramamurthy DMK Won
1990 M.L.A Nettapakkam INC N. Devadass DMK Won
1991 M.L.A Nettapakkam INC R. Subraya Gounder DMK Won
1996 M.L.A Nettapakkam INC V. Muthunarayanan Independent Won
2001 M.L.A Nettapakkam INC K. Dhanraju PMK Won
2006 M.L.A Nettapakkam INC V. Muthunarayanan PMC Won
2011 M.L.A Kamaraj Nagar INC Nara Kalainathan CPI Won
2016 M.L.A Kamaraj Nagar INC P. Ganesan AIADMK Won
Year Post Constituency Party Opponent Opposition Party Result
2019 M.P Puducherry INC Dr. Narayanasamy Kesavan All India N.R. Congress Won
2024 M.P Puducherry INC A. Namassivayam BJP Won

Comeback[edit | edit source]

Vaithilingam was falsely charged with an attempt to corrupt a fellow legislator.[4] Although he was found not guilty and acquitted on all charges, Vaithilingam lost his leadership of the Congress Legislative party in 2000. He was for the sixth time elected to the legislature and served as Industries and Power Minister in N.Rangaswamy cabinet in 2006.[5]

Positions held[edit | edit source]

Political offices
Preceded by
D. Ramachandran 		Chief Minister of Pondicherry
4 July 1991–13 May 1996 		Succeeded by
R.V. Janakiraman
Preceded by
V.M.C. Ganapathy 		Leader of Opposition of Puducherry
26 May 1996–21 March 2000 		Succeeded by
R.V. Janakiraman
Preceded by
N. Rangaswamy 		Chief Minister of Puducherry
4 September 2008–15 May 2011 		Succeeded by
N. Rangaswamy
Preceded by
A.M.H. Nazeem 		Leader of Opposition of Puducherry
2011–2016 		Succeeded by
N. Rangaswamy
Preceded by
V. Sabapathy 		Speaker of Puducherry
10 June 2016–21 Mar. 2019 		Succeeded by
V.P. Sivakolundhu

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Lok Sabha MP V Vaithilingam appointed as president of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee". The Times of India. 9 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "V Vaithilingam: Will Puducherry give him a chance to be CM again?". The Times of India. 18 May 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Multiple challenges ahead of V. Vaithilingam, new chief of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee". The Hindu. 10 June 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Defection Bazaar", (Outlook India), 2 April 1997
  5. ↑ "Vaithilingam sworn in as Puducherry Chief Minister", IST, PTI (Times of India), 4 September 2008.

External links[edit | edit source]

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