AK Sai J Saravanan Kumar

AK Sai J Saravanan Kumar is contesting from the Thirubhuvanai (reserved) constituency as a candidate of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party founded by actor Vijay. His nomination reflects TVK’s strategy of fielding a mix of fresh entrants and experienced political faces across all constituencies.

Saravanan Kumar is among the most politically dynamic figures in the 2026 Puducherry election cycle. He was inducted as a minister in the fourth N Rangasamy cabinet in 2021 as part of the BJP’s representation in the AINRC-BJP coalition and served in the role until mid-2025. His exit from the cabinet, when A Johnkumar replaced him, was widely seen within party circles as part of a pre-arranged rotational arrangement.

In a significant political turn, Saravanan Kumar resigned from the BJP after being denied a ticket for the 2026 elections, where he had sought to contest from the Oussudu reserved constituency. He subsequently joined TVK, which fielded him from Thirubhuvanai.

His switch is one of the most notable defections ahead of the polls, giving TVK a candidate with direct administrative experience and adding weight to the party’s debut electoral push in Puducherry.

Candidate Info: Ak. Sai J Saravanan Kumar is the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate contesting from Thirubhuvanai (Scheduled Caste) Assembly constituency for the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections. This male candidate is 53 years of age, according to the election affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India.