Thanjavur - Administration and Politics

Administration and Politics

The municipality of Tanjore was created in 1866 as a third grade municipality as per Town Improvements Act 1865 and initially consisted of 12 members. The number was increased to 18 in 1879 and 24 in 1883. In 1897, the members were empowered to elect a Municipal Chairperson to lead them. Tanjore was upgraded to a second grade municipality in 1933 and first grade in 1943. Since 1983, Thanjavur has been a special grade municipality. The municipality currently covers an area of 36.3 square kilometres (14.0 sq mi) and has a total of 51 members. The functions of the municipality are devolved into six departments: General, Engineering, Revenue, Public Health, Town planning and the Computer Wing. All these departments are under the control of a Municipal Commissioner who is the supreme executive head. The legislative powers are vested in a body of 51 members, one each from the 51 wards. The legislative body is headed by an elected Chairperson assisted by a Deputy Chairperson.

The town of Thanjavur is represented in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly by one elected members, for Thanjavur constituency. M. Karunanidhi, who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a record five terms, was elected from the Thanjavur assembly constituency in the 1962 elections. Thanjavur is also a part of the Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency and elects a member to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India, once every five years. The Lok Sabha seat has been held by the Indian National Congress for Seven terms (1952–57, 1957-62, 1962-1967, 1980-84, 1984–1989, 1989-91 and 1991-96), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for Seven terms (1967–71, 1971-77, 1996-98, 1998–99, 1999-04, 2004-09 and 2009–present)and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for one term (1977-80). R. Venkataraman, who served as the President of India from 1987 to 1992, was elected from the Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency in the 1951 elections. Indian politician S. S. Palanimanickam who is serving as Union Minister of State, Finance in the government of Dr.Manmohan singh, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Thanjavur in the 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2009 elections.