# K. Samarasam

K. Samarasam (also Ko. Samarasam) is an Indian politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. He is one of senior most party carde in All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He has been a member since 1972 when the party formed. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly from Kaveripattinam constituency as an Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate in 1977, 1980 elections and 1984 election. He won three consecutive Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections.
He was currently official spokesperson and speaker of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He is a member of the executive and general committees of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and former All World M.G.R forum secretary'. He was wedded to the ideals of Periyar and Muthuramalinga Thevar. Attracted by his fiery oratorical skill, Dravidian leader Arignar Annadurai changed his name to Samarasam from Krishnan. He was picked by AIADMK founder and former CM late M.G. Ramachandran. He received the Thanthai Periyar award for 2012 from the then CM, J Jayalalithaa in 2013 and Anna Award from CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in 2020. Actor Rajnikanth gave him the MGR award during the MGR centenary celebrations in 2018.

## Early life and politics

Samarasam was born in Kaveripattinam, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu in a Tamil agricultural family. His father was a member of Forward Bloc and Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar used to stay in their house during campaigns. Since from childhood he was inspired by Periyar and C.N.Annadurai speeches. He got involved in Dravida ideology and rational thinking. In later years he became an ardent M.G. Ramachandran fan and joined the MGR forum. Later became one of trustworthy person to M.G. Ramachandran. In 1977 when Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam faced Tamilnadu assembly election for first time, he was selected as a candidate in Kaveripattinam Assembly constituency and although he belongs to Agamudayar caste which was minority in that constituency, he won and made three consecutive wins in assembly election and became one of powerful politician during the M.G.R regime. In 1987 on that time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ramachandran attended his daughter's marriage in Kaveripattinam which was arranged grand and celebrated like a festival by people of Kaveripattinam on that time and which was last wedding ceremony attended by MGR.

## Election results
### Tamil Nadu Legislative elections

| Elections | Constituency | Party | Result | % Votes | Opposition candidate | Opposition party | % Votes |
| 1977 Tamil Nadu Assembly election | Kaveripattinam | AIADMK | Won | 39.37 | E.Pattabi naidu | JP | 29.95 |
| 1980 Tamil Nadu Assembly election | Kaveripattinam | AIADMK | Won | 51.13 | S.Venkatesan | DMK | 46.05 |
| 1984 Tamil Nadu Assembly election | Kaveripattinam | AIADMK | Won | 57.18 | V.C.Govindhaswamy gounder | DMK | 38.19 |

## Awards and accolades

* Recipient of Thanthai Periyar Award for 2012 and the Perarignar Anna Award for 2019 by Tamil valarchi thurai.
* Acted in supporting roles in Tamil movies like Rajinikanth starred Panakkaran and many more.
* Recipient of Thanthai Periyar Award for 2012 on 15 January 2013 from Jayalalithaa, chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The award carries cash reward of Rs. 1 lakh, 8 gram gold medal and a certificate of appreciation.