A. C. Shanmugam

A. C. Shanmugam is the founder and president of the Puthiya Needhi Katchi, a caste-based political party for the Mudaliar caste in Tamil Nadu, India. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Vellore constituency as an AIADMK candidate in the 1984 election.

Political career
He began his political career as an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) politician, when in 1984, he won the 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.

Later, he returned to AIADMK.

He stood from the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 on a AIADMK ticket and lost.

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 TamilNadu.

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

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.