Tamil Nadu polls: When son-in-law steps out

Chief minister M K Stalin’s son-in-law Sabarisan Vedamurthy, 49, stepped out from behind the scenes on Thursday, April 2, to campaign for DMK candidate Karthik Mohan in Villivakkam, Chennai. Karthik Mohan is a good friend of Sabarisan’s and is pitted against TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna, who was once a close friend.

Does this mean Sabarisan may more than just dabble in politics in future? Sabarisan dismissed such speculation, saying, “I have always worked behind the scenes, and I will continue to focus on playing a strategic role from the backend.” He told TOI, “The reason I stepped out on this occasion was to support my friend Karthik Mohan in his first political venture. I’ve always believed in encouraging young talent, especially people I’ve known for a long time.” There is no plan, said Sabarisan, to take up any frontline campaigning or deliver speeches. “My focus remains on backend strategy rather than pub-lic-facing roles,” he said.




Sabarisan holds no govt or party post but influences strategy, alliances, and important decisions within DMK. His involvement in politics, though covert, began ahead of the 2021 assembly election.

Sabarisan, who hails from Tirunelveli, does not come from a political family. It was after his “love marriage” to Stalin’s daughter Senthamarai, that he slowly started getting involved in his father-in-law’s political activities.

In Nov 2022, Sabarisan launched PEN (Populus Empowerment Network), a socio-political strategy firm with a mandate to provide DMK with tech and strategy support. Sabarisan’s involvement in politics began soon after the 2011 TN assembly election and DMK’s debacle. Since 2012, he worked with a small team and formed OMG (One Mind Generation) soon after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Since then, he has been actively involved in DMK’s strategy moves, later converting OMG into PEN. He is believed to have played a vital role in strategising for DMK’s success in the 2021 assembly election and 2024 Lok Sabha polls. On Nov 18 last year, Sabarisan was deputed to talk to Rahul Gandhi in Delhi about sending a committee to stem gossip and douse uncertainties over DMK-Congress alliance.

Will this be the beginning of the end of backroom manoeuvrings and more upfront participation in DMK politics? “No comments,” said Sabarisan, adding, “My focus is on continuing to create impact through strategy, insights, and support systems. I believe meaningful contribution does not require visibility, and I will continue to work where I can add the most value.”