Can Former Three-Time MLA Congress' K Gopinath Retain Krishnagiri Constituency? (Photo on Facebook K Gopinath)

K Gopinath, the Congress candidate from Krishnagiri Lok Sabha constituency for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is a former three-times MLA and seasoned politician. Born in 1966 in Hosur, Krishnagiri district, Gopinath was first elected to the Tamil Nadu state assembly from Hosur constituency in the 2001 legislative elections. In 2006 and 2011, he was re-elected again from the constituency. During the 2016 assembly elections, he was defeated by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)”s P. Balakrishna Reddy.

However, with the Congress decided to replace the sitting MP A. Chellakumar from Krishnagiri and picking Gopinath, many party functionaries are reportedly unhappy. It was reported that when he reached the Collectorate to file his nomination, there were no accompanying party members with him except a kin of him. The denial of the ticket for the sitting A. Chellakumar whose stint as MP was reportedly hailed as successful, has created disappointment among the party workers in the constituency.

The 61-year-old 10th-pass politician has no criminal cases registered against him. Gopinath possesses over 12 lakh assets as per his latest affidavit.

The Congress has fielded Gopinath in alliance with the DMK in the constituency. The constituency has vote bases for several parties including Congress, DMK and ADIDMK. Before Congress”s Chellakumar, AIADMK”s Ashok Kumar represented the seat from 2014 to 19. Before that, the constituency has been won by the DMK for three consecutive terms. With the Congress fielding Gopinath in his debut in the Lok Sabha, the party hope it will have an easy sail through the fight.