S Keerthana is the youngest Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA to be sworn in as a minister in the Vijay-led cabinet in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, May 10. He is among the nine ministers who were sworn in on Sunday.
When Selvi Keerthana was elected as a minister, he said, “Coming from such a middle-class family, to get such an opportunity as a candidate and to be a cabinet minister, is it easy in any of the states? No. They see the skills, they see the talent and we are here to make all the changes. This government will last for 35-50 years. We will be the longest government…”
Here’s everything you need to know about Keerthana
Keerthana was elected as an MLA from the Sivakasi constituency in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. She defeated Congress candidate Ashokan by 11,670 votes.
At 29, she became the youngest MLA to become a minister in the TVK government. She is a resident of Virudhunagar.
Keerthana also made history by becoming the first woman MLA from the Sivakasi constituency, ending nearly seven decades of all-male representation, the New Indian Express reported.
Her fluency in five languages, including Tamil, English, Hindi and Telugu, sets her apart from other Tamil Nadu leaders. “The language has given me so many opportunities to work in different states,” she was quoted as saying by NDTV.
She said she decided to speak in Hindi so that more people across India could understand and connect with Vijay’s message.
Explaining why she chose TVK, Keerthana reportedly said, “TVK is a place where everyone has access. Even if I don’t have a political or financial background, I am there. If you intend to do something for the people, you are welcome.”
According to South First, Keerthana previously worked as a political consultant and campaign strategist.
She was reportedly associated with firms such as IPAC and Showtime Consulting and worked on election campaigns associated with parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Speaking about her experience, Keerthana was quoted by NDTV as saying that her work as a political strategist gave her a deeper understanding of governance, administration and the workings of bureaucracy.
Keerthan’s Education: She holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and an M.A. in Statistics from Pondicherry Central University, according to South First.
Keerthan’s Wealth: Keerthana owns property worth ₹22.6 lakh, with a total income of around ₹6.4 million, according to the election statement. She declared no pending criminal proceedings.
