BJP nominates entrepreneur and party functionary Kirthika Shivkumar, replacing sitting MLA in key constituency
April 4, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Kirthika Shivkumar from the Modakkurichi Assembly constituency as part of its 27-member list for the Tamil Nadu elections. Her candidature marks a shift for the party, which has opted not to renominate sitting MLA Dr. Saraswathi. The move has drawn attention as the constituency was earlier seen as a potential seat for senior leader K. Annamalai.
Kirthika Shivkumar comes from a prominent local political family and is the daughter-in-law of Dr. Saraswathi. Within the party, she serves as a state secretary in the BJP’s NGO wing, reflecting her organisational involvement. Her selection signals the party’s push to promote leaders with grassroots engagement and internal experience ahead of the polls.
Apart from politics, she has built a profile as an entrepreneur and administrator, serving in leadership roles across education and healthcare institutions. She is associated with The Indian Public School (TIPS), CK Medical Center Hospital, and the Aram Charity Foundation. Having filed her nomination in Modakkurichi, Kirthika now enters the electoral fray with a mix of political backing, administrative exposure, and social work experience.