# Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi

Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi (born 2 December 1977 as "Nallamuththu Poyyamozhi") is an Indian politician serving as the Minister for School Education in Tamil Nadu and District secretary for Trichy district-South (Trichy east, Thiruverumbur & Manapparai constituencies) of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party. He was the Member of Legislative Assembly from 2016 to 2021. He has been serving as the State Deputy Secretary of the DMK Youth Wing since 2014.

## Political career

He started his political life as a party worker in the year 2000. He actively took part in various party activities and was appointed as the State Deputy Secretary of the DMK Youth Wing in 2014, a position he continues to hold. He was elected as a Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Thiruverumbur constituency in 2016. He was again elected as MLA in May 2021 from the Thiruverumbur constituency consecutively and appointed the School Education Minister of Tamil Nadu.
He concurrently holds the position of DMK District Secretary for Trichy South, with administrative oversight of Trichy East, Thiruverumbur, and Manapparai Assembly constituencies. He was initially appointed as the Minister in charge of Thanjavur district, and subsequently assigned responsibility for Nagapattinam district.

## Family and political background

Anbil Mahesh comes from a family with deep connections to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). His grandfather, Anbil P. Dharmalingam, was among the founding leaders of the DMK and maintained close associations with prominent political figures including Periyar, C.N. Annadurai, Rajaji, K. Kamaraj, and Quaid-e-Millath. Dharmalingam served as a minister in the cabinets of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, handling portfolios including Agriculture, Local Administration, Revenue, Information, and Public Relations.
His father, Anbil Poyyamozhi, served as a DMK MLA for two terms, winning elections in 1989 and 1996. He was a close associate of M.K. Stalin until his death on August 28, 1999.
The Anbil family's relationship with DMK leadership continues into its third generation. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi shares a close friendship with Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin that dates back to their childhood.

## Contributions to School Education Department

As School Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh has implemented several significant educational initiatives in Tamil Nadu. Notable programs introduced during his tenure include:
* Ennum Ezhuthum Scheme: A literacy and numeracy program targeting primary school students
* Illam Thedi Kalvi Scheme: A home-based learning initiative developed in response to educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
* Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme: A nutrition program designed to improve student health and school attendance in government institutions
* Naan Mudhalvan Scheme: Career guidance and skill development initiative for students.
* Vaanavil Mandram is an initiative launched by the Tamil Nadu government to foster scientific interest among students in classes VI to VIII. The program emphasizes activity-based learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, moving away from rote memorization. To facilitate this, 100 mobile science and mathematics laboratories have been introduced, serving over 13,200 schools and benefiting approximately 2 million students statewide.
Under his leadership, the Tamil Nadu government has introduced more than 50 educational welfare schemes aimed at enhancing the quality of school education.

## Recognition

On February 22, 2025, at the Tamil Nadu State Parent-Teacher Association Conference in Virudhachalam, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin characterized Anbil Mahesh's tenure as School Education Minister as a ‘golden period’ for the state's educational sector.

## Elections contested
### Tamil Nadu Legislative elections

| Elections | Constituency | Party | Result | Vote percentage | Opposition Candidate | Opposition Party | Opposition vote percentage |
| 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | Thiruverumbur | DMK | Won | 46.98 | D. Kalaichelvan | AIADMK | 37.85 |
| 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | Thiruverumbur | DMK | Won | 53.48 | P. Kumar | AIADMK | 28.27 |

## Opposition to New Education Policy 2020

Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has been a strong critic of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced by the Central Government of India. As Tamil Nadu's Minister for School Education, he has consistently argued that the state's educational system outperforms national averages across key performance indicators.
Anbil Mahesh has maintained that many benchmarks proposed in the NEP had already been achieved in Tamil Nadu through state-led initiatives years before the national policy's ideation. His public statements have emphasized that imposing the NEP on Tamil Nadu would be counterproductive given the state's established educational success.
A significant aspect of his opposition focuses on language policy, with Anbil Mahesh asserting that Tamil Nadu's two-language policy must continue instead of adopting the Central Government's three-language policy, which he has emphasized as an attempt at Hindi imposition.His opposition centers on advocating for regional autonomy in education policy, arguing that Tamil Nadu's education model has proven its effectiveness and should be allowed to operate independently of centralized policy frameworks.
Beyond opposing the NEP, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi is determined to transfer education to the State List, emphasizing that states should have full control over their educational policies. He has publicly stated, "Education should be transferred to the state list. We take care of our children and faculty. We decide what kind of intellectual training to give our students." He believes this shift will grant Tamil Nadu and other states greater autonomy, reducing central intervention and reinforcing federalism. This remains a key focus of his political career as he actively advocates for increased state control over education.