Lottery 'baron' Santiago Martin's family chooses three political parties to make electoral debut

Chennai/Puducherry: The Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry unfolded an array of candidates from the lottery 'king' Santiago Martin's family seeking their electoral fortunes through three different political parties.

Martin's wife Leema Rose, who joined the AIADMK recently, has been fielded from the Lalgudi Assembly constituency in Tiruchirappalli. Her son Jose Charles Martin, who launched his own political party, the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) is contesting from Kamaraj Nagar in the Union Territory as part of the AINRC-led NDA.

Rose's son-in-law, Aadhav Arjuna, who shifted his loyalty to the Vijay-led TVK in February 2025, after serving in the Thol Thirumavalavan-led VCK, is contesting from Villivakkam in Chennai.

All three are making their electoral debut in the April 9 and April 23 polls.

On the family members contesting from three different political parties, the 38-year-old Jose Charles said that in a democracy, it was not mandatory for every family member to support the same political party.

Jose Charles, managing director of the Martin group, has formerly been with the BJP. He quit the party and launched his own political party in December 2025, eyeing the Chief Minister's post in the Union Territory.

"Puducherry fits my vision of converting the Union Territory into a developed enclave ... I can show results faster," Jose Charles, who had declared his assets worth Rs 597 crore, said recently.

Leema Rose, the managing trustee of Martin Foundation, quit the T R Paarivendhar headed Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi, an ally of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, and joined the AIADMK.

Despite being a new entrant, the 59-year-old philanthropist was given the party ticket to contest from Lalgudi. She was appointed AIADMK's women's wing joint secretary.

The 43-year-old general secretary of TVK, Arjuna, has declared net assets worth Rs 197.52 crore.