01 — Ministerial Career & National Service
Summary
Long but uneven career. Served in Rajya Sabha for 5 years (266 debate entries), held multiple cabinet portfolios under Jayalalithaa including Public Works, Revenue, and Health, and was appointed TN’s Special Representative in Delhi in 2017. However, he was dropped from cabinet in December 2002 amid a land-ceiling controversy.
Education
| Qualification | Institution | Source |
|---|---|---|
| B.Sc. (Zoology), 1980 | St. Xavier’s College, Madurai Kamaraj University | Myneta 2021 |
| B.L., 1984 | University of Madras | Myneta 2021 |
Rajya Sabha (1996–2001)
Sundaram served in the Rajya Sabha from 3 April 1996 to 18 May 2001 (Myneta 2021), vacating the seat after being elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The Rajya Sabha debates archive lists 266 entries under his name on topics including central funds, rail, telecom, tribal welfare, and sanitation. (Rajya Sabha Debates)
State Cabinet Roles (2001–2006)
Sundaram served in Jayalalithaa-era cabinets with portfolios including public works, highways, irrigation, revenue, registration, and health.
| Period | Role / Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 2001 | Identified as Public Works Minister (Cauvery issue reporting) | TOI, Aug 2001 |
| November 2002 | Identified as Revenue Minister (Kanyakumari district reporting) | TOI, Nov 2002 |
| December 2002 | Dropped from cabinet — linked to land-ceiling exemption controversy around an institution connected to M. Thambi Durai; also removed from AIADMK advocates’ wing secretary post | TOI, Dec 2002 · Tribune, Dec 2002 |
| January 2006 | Identified as Health Minister | The Hindu Images, Jan 2006 |
Cabinet Removal — Dec 2002
He was dropped from both the cabinet and his party post simultaneously. The land-ceiling controversy was the reported cause. This is a documented disciplinary action, not speculation.
Delhi Appointment (2017)
The Tamil Nadu government appointed Sundaram as its Special Representative in New Delhi in early March 2017 — described in reporting as a cabinet-rank or cabinet-equivalent post. (Deccan Chronicle, Mar 2017)
Sources
- Myneta 2021 affidavit
- Rajya Sabha at Work PDF
- Rajya Sabha Debates archive
- Times of India, Aug 2001 — Public Works Minister
- Times of India, Nov 2002 — Revenue Minister
- Times of India, Dec 2002 — Cabinet dropped
- Tribune, Dec 2002
- The Hindu Images, Jan 2006 — Health Minister
- Deccan Chronicle, Mar 2017 — Delhi appointment