Vanathi Srinivasan

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Vanathi Srinivasan

| image =

| imagesize =

| alt =

| caption = Vanathi Srinivasan in December 2020

| nationality = Indian

| office = Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

| term_start = 7 May 2021

| constituency = Coimbatore South

| predecessor = Amman K. Arjunan

| office1 = President of the BJP Mahila Morcha

| term_start1 = 28 October 2020

| term_end1 =

| president1 = Jagat Prakash Nadda

| predecessor1 = Vijaya Rahatkar

| successor1 =

| office2 = Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tamil Nadu

| term_start2 = 3 July 2020

| term_end2 = 28 October 2020

| president2 = L. Murugan

| office3 = General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tamil Nadu

| term_start3 = 16 August 2014

| term_end3 = 3 July 2020

| president3 = Tamilisai Soundararajan
L. Murugan

| birth_name = Vanathi Kandaswamy

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|6|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

| residence = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

| website = {{URL|http://vanathisrinivasan.com/}}

| spouse = Su Srinivasan

| children = 2

| party = 20px Bharatiya Janata Party

| profession = Politician, lawyer

| alma_mater =

| date =

| year =

| signature =

| bodyclass =

}}

Vanathi Srinivasan (/ʋaːnati/; born 6 June 1970) is an Indian politician and a lawyer from Tamil Nadu.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/bjp-looks-for-new-party-chief-in-state/articleshow/69589502.cms|title=BJP looks for new party chief in Tamil Nadu |first=Jaya |last=Menon |website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24|date=31 May 2019 }} She has practiced law in Madras High Court since 1993.{{cite news |title=Vanathi Srinivasan elevated as BJP women's wing president |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/oct/29/vanathi-srinivasan-elevated-as-bjp-womens-wing-president-2216434.html |access-date=4 March 2021 |work=The New Indian Express |date=29 October 2020}} She is a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Coimbatore South Assembly constituency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/coimbatore-south-election-result-2021-live-updates-coimbatore-south-winner-loser-leading-trailing-mla-margin-3694766.html|title = Tamil Nadu: Kamal Haasan Loses to BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan in Coimbatore South|date = 3 May 2021}} She currently serves as national president of the women's wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is member of central election committee of party since 2022.{{Cite news |last=Hebbar |first=Nistula |date=2022-08-17 |title=Nadda drops Gadkari, brings in Yediyurappa in BJP rejig |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-parliamentary-board-gadkari-chouhan-dropped-yediyurappa-sonowal-among-six-new-entrants/article65778595.ece |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-17 |title=Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan dropped from BJP's parliamentary board |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-organisational-shuffle-parliamentary-board-changes-election-commitee-nitin-gadkari-shivraj-chouhan-8095285/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Personal life and education

Vanathi was born to Kandasamy and Poovathal in Uliyampalayam Village near Thondamuthur block in Coimbatore. She is the eldest in her family and she has a brother, Shiva Kumar. She did her schooling at Thondamuthur Higher Secondary School. Later, she did her UG program in chemistry from PSG College of Arts and Science. She graduated from Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai in 1993 and completed her master's degree in law from the University of Madras in the branch of International Constitution in 1995.{{Cite web |title=Vanathi Srinivasan became Tamil Nadu’s 1st MLA to earn ISO certified tag for her office |url=https://theprint.in/politics/how-bjps-vanathi-srinivasan-became-tamil-nadus-1st-mla-to-earn-iso-certified-tag-for-her-office/1975070/ |access-date=2021-12-22 |website=www.theprint.in |language=en}} She married Srinivasan and they have two sons.{{Cite web |title=Vanathi Srinivasan(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- COIMBATORE SOUTH(COIMBATORE) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/TamilNadu2021/candidate.php?candidate_id=282 |access-date=2021-12-22 |website=myneta.info}}

Career

Vanathi is a lawyer by profession and has been practicing law in Chennai High Court for over two decades.{{cite news| url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-bjp-leader-hosts-chat-shows-on-facebook/article6100637.ece| title = TN BJP leader hosts chat shows on Facebook | date = 23 May 2016 | access-date = 26 January 2018 | work = The Hindu}} She started her professional career in 1993, working for B. S. Gnanadesikan, Senior Advocate who was former President, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. She was also a standing counsel for Southern Railway and Union Government. She was a former state secretary of BJP Tamil Nadu and also served as board member of Central Board of Film Certification.Vanathi Srinivasan [https://www.elections.tn.gov.in/Affidavits2011/25/No.%2011%20Vanathi%20Srinivasan.pdf Election Affidavit] {{cite web | url = http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/aug242005/national223182005823.asp | publisher = Deccan Herald | date = 24 August 2005 | access-date = 27 September 2016 | title = Actor Surya held, out on bail | archive-date = 27 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160927203648/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/aug242005/national223182005823.asp | url-status = dead }} She contested 2011 and 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election as a BJP candidate.

Political career

Vanathi has been a member of BJP since 1993 and held various positions in the party since 1999.{{Cite web|title=Vanathi Srinivasan: Party Veteran And BJP's Hope For Coimbatore South|url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/vanathi-srinivasan-party-veteran-and-bjps-hope-for-coimbatore-south-in-tamil-nadu-assembly-elections-2426332|access-date=2021-12-22|website=NDTV.com}} She was appointed a State Secretary of the BJP Tamil Nadu in 2013 and continued until 2014 when she was appointed the General Secretary of the BJP Tamil Nadu, a post she continued till June 2020. Later, she was elevated as the state vice president of the state unit.{{Cite news|date=2020-07-03|title=Office bearers announced for BJP Tamil Nadu, V.P. Duraisamy, Vanathi Srinivasan named State vice presidents|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/office-bearers-announced-for-bjp-tamil-nadu-vp-duraisamy-vanathi-srinivasan-named-state-vice-presidents/article31978999.ece|access-date=2021-12-22|issn=0971-751X}} On 28 October 2020, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Jagat Prakash Nadda appointed her as the National President of the BJP Mahila Morcha.{{Cite web|title=Vanathi Srinivasan Appointed Chief Of BJP Mahila Morcha|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vanathi-srinivasan-appointed-chief-of-bjp-mahila-morcha-2317156|access-date=2021-12-22|website=NDTV.com}}{{Cite web|last=Rao|first=Madhu|date=2020-10-28|title=Vanathi Srinivasan appointed BJP Mahila Morcha chief|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national-bjp-mahila-morcha-chief-vanathi-srinivasan-appointed-660603|access-date=2021-12-22|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-29|title=Vanathi Srinivasan Appointed Chief of BJP Mahila Morcha.|url=https://allindialegalforum.in/2020/10/29/vanathi-srinivasan-appointed-chief-of-bjp-mahila-morcha/|access-date=2021-12-22|website=All India Legal Forum|language=en|archive-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222034247/https://allindialegalforum.in/2020/10/29/vanathi-srinivasan-appointed-chief-of-bjp-mahila-morcha/|url-status=dead}} She was added into Central Election Committee of BJP in 2022.

She was first elected as MLA representing the BJP, as part of an alliance, and won the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Coimbatore South constituency. She defeated actor Kamal Haasan of Makkal Needhi Maiam.{{Cite web |title=BJP announces candidates for Tamil Nadu election, Khushbu Sundar to contest from Chennai |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/tamil-nadu-assembly-polls-2021/story/bjp-candidates-list-for-tamil-nadu-election-khushboo-sundar-vanathi-srinavasan-1779180-2021-03-14}} Earlier in 2016, she secured 33,113 votes contesting from the same seat (2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election).{{cite news| url= http://www.thehindu.com/elections/tamilnadu2016/in-coimbatore-bjp-performs-better-than-dmdkpwftmc/article8623059.ece| title = In Coimbatore, BJP performs better than DMDK-PWF-TMC | date = 12 September 2016 | access-date = 26 January 2018 | work = The Hindu| last1 = Madhavan | first1 = Karthik }}

=Elections contested=

class="sortable wikitable" ! Year ! Constituency ! colspan="2" \| Party ! Votes ! % ! colspan="3" \| Opponent ! Votes ! % ! Margin
2011 \| Mylapore \|{{Party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party\|shortname=BJP\|rowspan=3}} \| 6,911 \| 4.84 \|{{Party name with color\|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam\|shortname=ADMK\|rowspan=2}} \| Rajalakshmi R \| 56.03 \|{{no2\|Lost}} \| 73,152
2016 \| Coimbatore South \| 26,675 \| 21.57 \| Amman K. Arjunan \| 38.94 \|{{no2\|Lost}} \| 26,675
2021 \| Coimbatore South \| 53,209 \| 34.38 \|{{Party name with color\|Makkal Needhi Maiam\|shortname=MNM}} \| Kamal Haasan \| 33.26 \|{{yes2\|Won}} \| 1,728

class="sortable wikitable"

! Year

! Constituency

! colspan="2" | Party

! Votes

! %

! colspan="3" | Opponent

! Votes

! %

! Margin

2011

| Mylapore

|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party|shortname=BJP|rowspan=3}}

| 6,911

| 4.84

|{{Party name with color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|shortname=ADMK|rowspan=2}}

| Rajalakshmi R

| 56.03

|{{no2|Lost}}

| 73,152

2016

| Coimbatore South

| 26,675

| 21.57

| Amman K. Arjunan

| 38.94

|{{no2|Lost}}

| 26,675

2021

| Coimbatore South

| 53,209

| 34.38

|{{Party name with color|Makkal Needhi Maiam|shortname=MNM}}

| Kamal Haasan

| 33.26

|{{yes2|Won}}

| 1,728

Controversy

= Disproportionate asset allegation =

Srinivasan was involved in a controversy after raids on a company named Zylog Systems, where she holds shares and her brother was a vice president. She denied any involvement with the company and stated that there was no proof to back up the allegations.{{Cite web|last=Mathi|date=2017-05-22|title=என்னைப் பற்றி வதந்தி பரப்பும் விஷமி ... ஜாக்கிரதை.. வானதி சீனிவாசன் போட்டு தாக்குவது யாரை?|url=https://tamil.oneindia.com/news/tamilnadu/vanathi-srinivasan-explains-on-zylog-company-issue-283512.html|access-date=2021-05-18|website=tamil.oneindia.com|language=ta}}{{Cite web|date=2019-03-11|title=ED takes action against Zylog systems - Does it spell trouble for BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan?|url=https://simplicity.in/coimbatore/english/news/43792/ED-takes-action-against-Zylog-systems---Does-it-spell-trouble-for-BJPs-Vanathi-Srinivasan|access-date=2021-05-18|website=simplicity.in|language=en}}

= Legal cases =

The AIADMK filed criminal cases of assault on Vanathi Srinivasan and six other members including the Hindu Munnani district President T. Guna in Coimbatore during the state assembly campaigns of 2016. The Madras High court granted her an anticipatory bail for the case in August 2016.{{Cite news |last=Subramani |first=A. |date=8 August 2016 |title=Madras HC grants anticipatory bail to BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan |language=en |website=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Madras-HC-grants-anticipatory-bail-to-BJP-leader-Vanathi-Srinivasan/articleshow/53599680.cms |access-date=2019-12-24}}

=Tamil Nadu bifurcation proposal=

Vanathi supports the idea of bifurcating Tamil Nadu to create a separate Kongu Nadu union territory.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/in-tamil-nadu-murmurs-of-state-bifurcation-provoke-a-backlash-101626668302705.html|title=In Tamil Nadu, murmurs of state bifurcation provoke a backlash|date=19 July 2021|website=Hindustan Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://tamil.asianetnews.com/politics/kongu-nadu-has-been-alone-at-that-time-excitement-by-vanathi-srinivasan-information--qw10k3|title = அப்போதே தனியாகத்தான் இருந்திருக்கிறது கொங்கு நாடு... வானதி சீனிவாசன் தகவலால் பரபரப்பு..!}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-bifurcation-dmk-left-slam-bjp-over-kongu-nadu-1826660-2021-07-11|title = DMK, Left slam Tamil Nadu BJP for allegedly stoking 'Kongu Nadu' controversy}}

Social activism

She was the State Organiser for Sister Nivedita 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/sister-nivedita-ratha-yatra-flagged-off/article22494071.ece |title=Sister Nivedita ratha yatra flagged off |work=The Hindu |date=2018-01-23 |access-date=2018-01-26}} She also initiated water conservation projects in Coimbatore to protect the local water bodies.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/uliyampalayam-pond-fills-up/article17600488.ece |title=Uliyampalayam pond fills up |work=The Hindu |date=2017-04-23 |access-date=2018-01-26}}

References

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Tamil Nadu

Category:Tamil Nadu MLAs 2021–2026

Category:Politicians from Coimbatore

Category:University of Madras alumni