Career
He is a leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, and was Union Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare (Independent Charge) during the second Vajpayee government in 1998-1999. He was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha from Chidambaram. He later joined AIADMK and was elected as an AIADMK Member of Parliament from Trichy (General) Consistency in the 2001 bye-election.
He was born on 24 June 1945 in Chengai in Chingelput district in Tamil Nadu.
As an army officer he took part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He is a recipient of the K Sainik Seva Medal from the president for meritorious service in the Army.