Indian politician, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. A leading figure in the Congress-led national opposition alliance and a chief proponent of Tamil-identity politics in opposition to Narendra Modi, he helped make his state an industrial powerhouse, attracting Apple and Ford with pro-business reforms. Like Mamata Banerjee, he was seen by many voters as corrupt, though he denies it. In May 2026 he was ousted by Vijay, a Tamil cinema star turned politician, whose two-year-old party rode a wave of urban youth dissatisfaction.
I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know.