{ "id": "epetj1hbww", "slug": "ravikumar", "title": "Ravikumar", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.south-indian-politicians", "label": "South Indian politicians", "api_url": 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"Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.south-indian-politicians", "label": "South Indian politicians", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.south-indian-politicians" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Ravikumar, born 1960, in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, is an Indian politician of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi who has represented Viluppuram in the Lok Sabha since 2019.", "snippet": "Ravikumar, born 1960, in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, is an Indian politician of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi who has represented Viluppuram in the Lok Sabha since 2019.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.south-indian-politicians.tamil-nadu-politicians.legislators-and-party-leaders", "markdown": "# Ravikumar\n\nRavikumar (born 1960) is an Indian politician from [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) and a member of the [Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi](https://www.edgepedia.org/viduthalai-chiruthaigal-katchi) (VCK).[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) He is a Member of the Lok Sabha for Viluppuram, and has represented the constituency in the 17th [Lok Sabha](https://www.edgepedia.org/lok-sabha) from 2019 to 2024 and in the 18th Lok Sabha since 2024.[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Party | Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) |\n| Current office | Member of the Lok Sabha for Viluppuram[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) |\n| Previous offices | Member of the Lok Sabha (17th Lok Sabha, 2019 to 2024)[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) |\n| Born | 1960, Manganampattu, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) |\n| Education | M.A., B.L., Ph.D.; Tamil University, Thanjavur and Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nRavikumar is a member of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, also known as the VCK.[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) His party affiliation in the Lok Sabha is listed as the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi for his current term.[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nRavikumar was born in 1960 in Manganampattu, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) He holds an M.A., a B.L., and a Ph.D., and was educated at [Tamil University](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-university), Thanjavur, and [Annamalai University](https://www.edgepedia.org/annamalai-university), Tamil Nadu.[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members)\n\n## Career\n\nRavikumar was a member of the 17th Lok Sabha, sitting from 2019 to 2024.[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) He was elected to the 18th Lok Sabha from Viluppuram in Tamil Nadu and has been a sitting member since 2024.[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members) His Lok Sabha biography lists him as D Ravi Kumar, representing the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.[1](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members)\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Alliance politics\n\nIn September 2026, Ravikumar commented on criticism of his party's alliance arrangements. According to a report published on September 18, 2026, he said that the TVK had taken a significant risk for the Congress.[2](https://www.vikatan.com/government-and-politics/tvk-took-a-huge-risk-for-congress-said-by-mp-ravikumar) Responding to criticism of the alliance, he said, \"தி.மு.க ஆதரவாளர்கள் என கூறிக்கொள்ளும் சிலர், 'தி.மு.க கூட்டணி கட்சிகள் த.வெ.க கூட்டணியில் இணைந்தது துரோகம்' என்பதுபோல் தொடர்ந்து விமர்சித்துவருகிறார்கள்.\" (our translation: Some who describe themselves as supporters of the [Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam](https://www.edgepedia.org/dravida-munnetra-kazhagam) have continued to criticize, saying that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance parties joining the [Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamilaga-vettri-kazhagam) alliance is a betrayal.)[2](https://www.vikatan.com/government-and-politics/tvk-took-a-huge-risk-for-congress-said-by-mp-ravikumar)\n\n### Legislative record\n\nIn the 18th Lok Sabha, for the period from June 24, 2024, to August 13, 2026, Ravikumar's recorded attendance was 60%, against a national average of 85%. He took part in 21 debates, against a national average of 21.5, and asked 130 questions, against a national average of 119.7. He introduced 0 private member's bills, against a national average of 0.4.[3](https://prsindia.org/mptrack/18th-lok-sabha)\n\nMost bills in Parliament pass by voice vote without a record of how individual members voted, and members are required to vote according to the party whip under the anti-defection law, failing which they could lose their seat.[4](https://prsindia.org/articles-by-prs-team/recording-each-vote)\n\n## References\n\n1. [D Ravi Kumar, Member Biography, Lok Sabha](https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/4972?from=members)\n2. [TVK Took a Huge Risk for Congress said by MP Ravikumar, Vikatan](https://www.vikatan.com/government-and-politics/tvk-took-a-huge-risk-for-congress-said-by-mp-ravikumar)\n3. [MP Track, 18th Lok Sabha, PRS Legislative Research](https://prsindia.org/mptrack/18th-lok-sabha)\n4. [Recording Each Vote, PRS Legislative Research](https://prsindia.org/articles-by-prs-team/recording-each-vote)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › South Indian politicians › Tamil Nadu politicians › Legislators and party leaders*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ravikumar", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ravikumar.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Ravikumar\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ravikumar. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Ravikumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravikumar)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/ravikumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravikumar). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Ravikumar\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ravikumar. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Ravikumar, born 1960, in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, is an Indian politician of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi who has represented Viluppuram in the Lok Sabha since 2019." }