A. C. Shanmugam

Arani Chockalingam Shanmugam, better known as A. C. Shanmugam, is the founder and president of the Puthiya Needhi Katchi, a caste-based political party for the Thuluva Vellalar caste in Tamil Nadu, India. when he won the 1984 parliament election with 52.93% of votes for AIADMK. Subsequently, he held the posts of MP and Member of the Legislative Assembly, before founding the New Justice Party.

In 2014, as a BJP candidate he contested elections in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency and lost. and stood from the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 on a AIADMK ticket, but narrowly lost by under a percentage point.

Puthiya Needhi Katchi Puthiya Needhi Katchi (translation: New Justice Party), is a caste-based political party in Tamil Nadu founded by A.C. Shanmugam for the Mudaliar caste. The party was started just before the 2001 Tamil Nadu assembly election. The leader of the party claims to represent Mudaliars and Pillaimars castes significantly present from all over Tamil Nadu.

As of 2022, the party is still led by A. C. Shanmugam, and continues to ally with larger parties.

For the 2026 Assembly elections, it has tied up with AIADMK in the NDA alliance.

Business He is also the founder and chancellor of Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Rajarajeswari Group of Institutions, and ACS group of institutions in Arani.

Electoral performance

General Elections of India Year ConstituencyParty Votes % OpponentOpponent Party Opponent Votes % Result Margin % 2024Vellore 352,990 31.25Kathir Anand 568,692 50.35 -215,702 -19.08 2019 477,199 46.42 485,340 47.21 -8,141 -0.79 2014 324,326 33.26 B. Senguttuvan 383,719 39.35 -59,393 -6.09 1984 284,416 52.93 A. M. Ramalingam 209,693 39.02 74,723 13.91

Filmography

As a producer Year Film Notes 2021 Aranmanai 3 2022 Coffee with Kadhal 2024 Aranmanai 4 2025 Madha Gaja RajaFilmed in 2012 and released after 12 yearsGangers 2026 Double Occupancy Meesaya Murukku 2 Purushan