Raja Kannappan

R. S. Raja Kannappan is an Indian politician currently serving as the Minister for Backward Classes Welfare and Higher Education in the Tamil Nadu government. A veteran figure in state politics, he has held various ministerial portfolios throughout his career, including Transport, Public Works, and Khadi and Village Industries. After founding the Makkal Tamil Desam party in the early 2000s, he eventually rejoined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 2020. He has been a vocal critic of the BJP's influence in southern districts, advocating for secular political alignment.