Chennai, Sept 3:
Former AIADMK functionary Singai Ramachandran, who recently joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, has been appointed to head the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission.
Ramachandran’s appointment comes shortly after his switch from the AIADMK to TVK.
He had served as the AIADMK’s IT wing secretary and student wing secretary and was also the party’s candidate from Coimbatore in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
He resigned from the AIADMK in July this year and subsequently joined TVK in the presence of party leader and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
The Tamil Nadu government has now entrusted him with the leadership of the State’s startup and innovation mission.
Ramachandran comes from a political family. His father, Singai Govindaraj, was also a former AIADMK MLA.
The appointment assumes significance because StartupTN is tasked with promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and the startup ecosystem in the State.
Ramachandran takes charge after the resignation of Sivaraj Ramanathan, who stepped down in June from his positions as Project Director and Chief Executive Officer of StartupTN.
Following Ramanathan’s resignation, the TVK-led government had given additional charge of the responsibilities to L Nirmal Raju, Commissioner of Industries and Director of Industries and Commerce.
The government has now appointed Ramachandran to the position.
His transition from an opposition political party into the ruling TVK and subsequent appointment to a key government-backed startup institution is likely to attract political attention.
Before entering TVK, Ramachandran had been active in the AIADMK’s organisational and digital operations and had contested a parliamentary election.
His new assignment places him in charge of an institution central to the State government’s efforts to promote startups, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The appointment is also among the latest instances of experienced political and organisational figures being brought into important positions under the newly formed TVK government.