G. K. Vasan

Under his leadership, the party fielded 32 candidates in the 12th Tamil Nadu State Assembly election and won 23 constituencies by securing over 18.85 Lakhs votes.

G. K. Vasan (born Govindaswamy Karuppiah Vasan, 28 December 1964) is an Indian Politician and son of G. K Moopanar, a veteran Indian National Congress Leader.

G K Vasan is currently the president of Tamil Maanila Congress (M), a political party in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

Govindaswamy Karuppiah Vasan, better known as G. K Vasan was born on 28 December 1964 in Sundara Perumal koil, Thanjavur Dist in Tamil Nadu to an affluent agricultural landlord family to G. K. Moopanar and Kasthuri Moopanar.

G. K Moopanar was a great secular statesman committed to nation building.

Ever since country's first general election to Indian parliament, he had played a major key role in socio-political undertakings in the Indian National Congress.

his forefathers were landlords.

In fact, during the pre-Independence period, all of Thanjavur comprised merely of five provinces, and his family clan was one of the few who ruled over the richest arable land in the region Kabisthalam'.

It was also called as 'Moopanar.

G.K Vasan did his schooling from Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School in Chennai and completed his graduation in Bachelor of Arts (B.A) Corporate Secretaryship from The New College, Madras University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

He is married to Shrimathi Sunitha Vasan, daughter of Dr. N. Lakshmi Narayanan, a Professor of Medicine and Shrimathi Sulochana.

Shrimathi Sunitha Vasan is a university gold medal grades in her both (M.A) academic programmes.

She has completed ‘Master of Arts (M.A) in Psychology, from SIET College; Madras University and Master of Arts (M.A) in Sociology, from Pondicherry University.

She is a qualified counselor, both in academics and personal and does actively involve in developing academic curriculum for special children's. They have a son, Shri G.K. Pranav.

In the initial phase of political career, G K Vasan though was not officially a chair in the party, yet actively involved in the political events in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.

He was supportive to the G. K. Moopanar in his political administrations and did participate in election campaigns in Mayiladuthurai Parliament Constituency and Papanasam State Assembly Constituency.

After the demise of G. K. Moopanar in 2001, G K Vasan was unanimously elected as the President of Tamil Maanila Congress by the MPs, MLAs and senior functionaries of the party.

G K Vasan was then the youngest president of a State Political Party in India.

On 14 August 2001, the party (TMC) under the leadership of G K Vasan and its MPs, MLA and millions of cadres got merged unconditionally with the Indian National Congress.

After becoming a member in Indian National Congress, G K Vasan played a major roles at both National and State Level politics.

He was a member of Rajya Sabha, an upper house of Indian Parliament from the year 2002 until 2014.

In the year 2002, when the party (TMC) was most influential and strong both in organizational strength and political representation at state and centre; G K Vasan came forward to fulfill the wishes of G. K. Moopanar and millions of his party followers.

He became a Secretary (in 2002) of All India Congress Committee and rose to the level of becoming the youngest President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in 2004; making him only next to Perunthalaivar K. Kamarajar who held the honour of being the youngest President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.

G K Vasan extensively toured the state to rejuvenate the party cadres and interacted with general public to strengthen the organisation.

An act of recognition for his performance in state politics; Indian National Congress Committee elevated G K Vasan to become a Member of Rajya Sabha, an upper house of Indian Parliament in the year 2002.

G K Vasan was also privileged to be the youngest President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee; making him until today, the only person next to Perunthalaivar K. Kamarajar who held the honour of being the youngest President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.

G. K Vasan was elected from the state of Tamil Nadu to Indian Parliament in the year 2002.

As a Member of Parliament, he was part of several administrative consultative committees on policies and programme implementations.

As a rural resident himself, he constantly strives to empower the local bodies and in the process, he was keenly associated as a member of:

Consultative committee for the Ministry of Agriculture (year 2002–2004): whereby, dynamically backed the measures to build a vibrant rural economy and for 'National Food Security.

Departmentally-Related Standing Committee on Urban and Rural Development (year 2003–2004).

Committee on Urban and Rural Development (year 2003–2004).

Member, Committee on Subordinate Legislation (year 2003–2004).

Member, Committee on Coal and Steel (year 2004–2006).

Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Urban Development (year 2004–2006).

Actively involved in the parliamentary bill 'The Provisions of the Municipalities (Ext.to the Scheduled Areas)'; a setup of urban local bodies in the scheduled areas.

In his maiden election (13th Tamil Nadu State Assembly Election) as a President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee; in an alliance with DMK, fielded 10 candidates and won all of them.

G. K Vasan was sworn in as Union Minister of Shipping under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the 13th Prime Minister of India.

The Shipping Ministry under his able guidance saw a stupendous growth both in infrastructure and economic performance.

During his tenure as a Member of Indian Parliament, he had functioned in several positions in the Union Government under UPA 1 & UPA II regime including as a Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation from Jan 2006 – May 2009; Union Minister of Shipping from May 2009 – May 2014 and as an In-charge Minister for Labour from Jan 2014 - April 2014.