M. A. Manickavelu Naicker

M. Alagappa Manickavelu Naicker
Member of Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
In office April 3, 1962 – April 15, 1964
Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru
Minister of Revenue (Madras state)
In office April 10, 1952 – April 3, 1962
Premier	C. Rajagopalachari, K. Kamaraj
Preceded by	None
Personal details
Born	December 14, 1896
Died	July 25, 1996 (aged 99)
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Swarajya Party (till 1934), Commonweal Party (1951-1954), Indian National Congress(from 1954 onwards)
Profession	Politician

M. Alagappa Manickavelu Naicker (December 14, 1896 – July 25, 1996) or simply, M. A. Manickavelu was an Indian politician of the Indian National Congress and founder of the Commonweal Party. He served as the Minister of Revenue for the Madras state from 1953 to 1962. He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1962 to 1964. During 1964-70 he was the Chairman (presiding officer) of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council

Early life

Manickavelu was born to M. Alagappa Naicker on December 14, 1896. Alagappa belonged to the numerically strong Vanniyar community of North Tamil Nadu. Manickavelu graduated in arts and proceeded to qualify as a lawyer. Manickavelu entered politics early in life and became a member of the Swarajya Party faction of the Indian National Congress.^[1] In 1926, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Council.Manickavelu served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council from 1926 to 1937.

Commonweal Party

In 1951, Naicker founded the Commonweal Party which represented Vanniyar interests in Chingleput and North Arcot districts.^[2] In 1951, he contested in the 1951 elections, the first held in independent India as a candidate of the Commonweal Party, an ally of the DMK, and was elected to the assembly once again. Naicker was appointed Minister of Land Revenue and served from 1953 to 1962.^[3] When Rajagopalachari stepped down as Chief Minister and was succeeded by Kamaraj, Naicker dissolved the Commonweal Party and merged his organisation with the Indian National Congress.^[4] He served as a member of the Madras Legislative Assembly till 1962 when he was elected to the upper house of India's Parliament, the Rajya Sabha. He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1962 to 1964.

Death

Manickavelu Naicker died in Madras on July 25, 1996.^[5]

See Also

• S. S. Ramasami Padayatchiyar

Notes

1. I. Rudolph, Lloyd; Suzanne Hoeber Rudolph (1969). The Modernity of Tradition: political development in India. University of Chicago. p. 55. ISBN 0-226-73137-5.
2. I. Rudolph, Lloyd; Suzanne Hoeber Rudolph (1969). The Modernity of Tradition: political development in India. University of Chicago. p. 56. ISBN 0-226-73137-5.
3. "Council of Ministers and their Portfolios (1952-1957)" (PDF). A Review of the Madras Legislative Assembly (1952-1957). Government of Tamil Nadu.
4. I. Rudolph, Lloyd; Suzanne Hoeber Rudolph (1969). The Modernity of Tradition: political development in India. University of Chicago. p. 58. ISBN 0-226-73137-5.
5. Data India. Press Institute of India. 1996. p. 544.

References

• "Rajya Sabha Biography". Parliament of India.