TVK MLA Selvi S. Keerthana has become one of the youngest ministers in Tamil Nadu. She is also the only woman in Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s cabinet of ministers.
Keerthana won the seat at the Sivakasi Assembly constituency in Virudhunagar district, breaking the seven-decade-long history of male-only leaders in the region. The constituency is known as the “fireworks capital of India”
Before joining politics, she worked as a political consultant and digital campaign strategist with Showtime Consulting. She also has postgraduate qualifications.
Before winning Sivakasi, she played a role in TDP campaigns and also worked with former chief minister MK Stalin.
Sources say that she played an important behind-the-scenes role in the TVK's early rise, especially in youth mobilisation and constituency planning and social media communication.
She also recently made headlines when she spoke in fluent Hindi. She is multilingual. She said that she chose to speak in the language so that more people can understand and connect with the party leader’s message. She said that she sees the language as important for national communication and recognition.
During her campaign, she focused on developmental issues, especially related to safety and healthcare infrastructure, pointing out the absence of specialised facilities.
Keerthana assured comprehensive welfare measures for firecracker industry workers, including insurance coverage, equal pay for women, regular health check-ups, and better access to treatment for those exposed to hazardous chemicals.
Speaking to reporters, Keerthana said on Sunday, "Today is a big day for Tamil Nadu and the public of the state... This is the moment everybody has been waiting for."