Former minister Thiagarajan, who contested from Madurai Central on a DMK ticket, has accepted his defeat and said he remains proud of sticking to his principles.
In a four-page statement released on Sunday, he said he entered electoral politics about a decade ago after leaving a job abroad, with the aim of improving society and living standards. He listed his goals as spreading awareness about the role of social justice movements, continuing his family’s public work, and strengthening the family’s goodwill.
Thiagarajan said he was satisfied with the changes he helped bring within the party, the constituency and the State as a minister, but acknowledged that several initiatives could not be completed. He cited pending work such as financial-sector reforms, the Madurai Metro, shifting the Madurai Central Prison, and completing stormwater drains and underground sewerage projects.
He said he had sought a ticket again, postponing his earlier plan to retire from politics in 2026, hoping to return and finish these projects. During the campaign, he said there were allegations of defects in nomination papers and affidavits of rival candidates, but he chose not to pursue disqualification as a “shortcut” and said he did not regret that decision.
Stating that he was happy to have lost without resorting to cash-for-votes or false propaganda, he thanked the 44,286 people who voted for him and said principles mattered more than victory. He said he would step back for a few weeks and advised the new government to use the opportunity for reforms across all government functioning, while also listing his work as an MLA, minister and GST Council member.
