When Ujagar Singh, 66, filed his nomination from the Chengam (reserved) constituency in Tiruvannamalai district, it was clear that he was not a ‘usual’ candidate.
A native of Punjab, the former IAS officer is contesting on the ticket of the Inthiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam, a fringe party that is in alliance with the BJP in the State and will contest on the BJP symbol.
Mr. Singh was born in a peasant’s family in Khiali, a village in Punjab’s Sangrur district and joined the Air Force in 1967. A veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, he cleared the civil service exam five years after that and was allotted the Tamil Nadu cadre.
“I have worked in several districts including Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli and Kanyakumari in different capacities, including as collector in Ramanathapuram. I was deputed to the Central government and worked as a Director in the Ministry of Defence. I also worked as Finance Secretary in the State, before retiring in 2010.”
Mr. Singh was suspended from service in 2003, when he was the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Agro Industries Corporation. He was accused of irregularities allegedly committed in 1994 when he was the Managing Director of Aavin. When asked about it, he says that he was victimised for refusing to oblige the then minister. “However, I was reinstated after four months. An enquiry revealed I did nothing wrong. Only then I got my promotion and all, and retired from service.”
Mr. Singh says his main poll promise to the people of Chengam is free education — from kindergarten till doctoral research.
