Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026: In Avinashi, DMK Bets on a Young Doctor Against BJP’s L Murugan

Avinashi, a reserved constituency in Tiruppur district, is a largely agrarian place where the DMK is trying to break a long run of losses against a high-profile BJP challenger. Dr V Gokilamani, a 28-year-old government doctor and first-time contestant, has been fielded by the DMK as a local, educated face against Union Minister L Murugan.

This is your first time contesting, but your father has been a DMK worker for a long time. Have you been involved in campaigning before? 

I have done canvassing before. I have gone out campaigning. During the MP elections and in Assembly elections, too, I have been involved. After I turned 18 and went to college, whenever I came home during holidays, I would certainly go out and canvass. I have also been active in the DMK Medical Wing, at the union level, as a deputy organiser. I have held a position from the age of 18. After that too, I have continuously been with the DMK. I have always liked the DMK’s principles and policies. So I can say the DMK is what raised me. I am a daughter of the DMK. The idea that all four daughters should be educated came to my father from Dr Kalaignar. Growing up, I understood from a young age how important politics is in life. That is the reality. I also saw the impact of politics on women’s self-respect. It was the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government that brought in such ideas. The fact that even a grassroots worker’s daughter has now got an opportunity—this can happen only in the DMK, nowhere else.

How did you decide, at such a young age, that you wanted to contest in the Assembly election?

I am a medical officer. I completed my MBBS at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital between 2015 and 2021. After that, for one year, I worked there as a Covid medical officer. Then I got posted as a government medical officer at the Government Primary Health Centre in Nambiyampalayam. I have worked there for around eight months. After entering the government setup, I saw schemes like Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (healthcare at people’s doorstep), dialysis care delivered at home, Nammai Kaakkum 48, Innuyir Kaappom and many other schemes. We go directly to people’s homes and give medicines. Under Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, a team of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff go house to house and provide medicines. This was very different. Until now, no one had done things this way. In medicine, if we make an early diagnosis, then the progression and prognosis become much easier to manage. We can treat earlier and correct it. But the public often does not know if they have hypertension or diabetes. In such cases, if we go as a medical team to each house, check BP, check random blood sugar and so on. So the point is: people should not have to go in search of schemes. If the government itself takes a step and comes to people’s homes saying, “We will do this for you,” that is a very big thing. Seeing all this, I felt that if a government is able to care for people to this extent, that matters. If I can do so much while being only in the medical profession, then imagine how many more good things can be brought to the public through other departments as well. That was the broader thought. So if I am getting a chance like this—a chance to serve people—then I should definitely use it properly and bring development to my constituency.

I am 28 now and for all these years, Avinashi has seen no real growth. But the potential is there. People come, they win, they ask for votes, and then they leave. So as a woman from this area—not just as a candidate, but as a woman born and brought up in Avinashi—I have often wondered: why is our town like this? Why has there been no development at all? So I have long had the thought that if I ever got such an opportunity, I should definitely contest. 

In this constituency, in the high school where you studied, there was a major incident a few years ago where a Dalit cook was expelled. The court has now struck down the decision and punished the people responsible. You studied in that same school, became a doctor, and now you are contesting as an MLA candidate. What message does that send?

The DMK government protects social justice. That is the message it conveys.

So why hasn’t the DMK been able to win here for three decades? 

For all these years, outsiders have been fielded by the AIADMK. Now we have finally have a local educated candidate. We will definitely win here. As for not winning here in 30 years, DMK has broken such patterns in many places across Tamil Nadu. 

What local issues are you highlighting? 

In terms of local issues, there is the Avinashi–Athikadavu scheme. The AIADMK claims that they brought it. But most of the funding for it has come from the DMK government. Now when the second phase begins, there are more than 500 ponds still left to be connected. We have said that we will connect them and expand the scheme further in the second phase.

This is basically an agriculture-based constituency. At the same time, Tiruppur’s textile companies are nearby, so textiles are very important here. Banana cultivation is also very high here. So we have said that we will definitely bring in a proper auction centre for that.

Similarly, in Sevur, groundnut is grown in plenty. So we have said that we will bring in a proper auction centre there too, streamline the existing one, and also work toward getting a geographical indication tag for it.

What are your prospects, contesting against a Union minister?

The public sees me like their own daughter because I was born and brought up in this place. Everywhere we go, they say we are the ones who will win, that I will win. The opposition candidate, what has he done as a Union minister, the people are asking that question. As a Union minister, what has he done for Tamil Nadu? Absolutely nothing. The post of Union minister seems to be only in name in his case. 

Every party is trying hard this time, especially because Vijay is contesting. How much vote-splitting do you think TVK can cause for you?

For many years, whether as the ruling party or as the opposition, it is the DMK that has stood in the field for the people. There is no need to talk about TVK at all. They are not even in the field. Even the first-time voters come only to the DMK and place their demands with us. Every time we go campaigning, 18-plus voters all come and speak to us. Even youngsters know that the DMK government, over five years, has done something for every family. We are now giving benefits to women, which as Vidiyal Payanam, Pudhumai Penn scheme, breakfast scheme and so on. In every way, every family has benefited. We fully believe that those who have benefited will definitely support the DMK government. No one has been left behind.