A video capturing her making kolam—a traditional South Indian decorative art crafted from rice flour, typically displayed outside homes as a welcoming gesture—went viral during an office inauguration ceremony.
This unassuming girl next door is now the youngest minister in the Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay.
Her husband, Pachamuthu, operates an e-service center in Rasipuram, a suburb of Salem city in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. Recently, she became the legislator for the Avinashi constituency, defeating Union Minister L Murugan from the Bharatiya Janata Party by over 15,000 votes in the latest elections.
With 14 candidates on the ballot, Avanashi (reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Castes) achieved a voter turnout of 91.13% in 2026, compared to 75.18% in 2021. Kamali emerged victorious while campaigning with a four-month-old in her arms.
A major upset without a political background, it was anticipated that she would secure a position in Vijay’s cabinet, which includes three other women. Kamali will now oversee the livestock department.
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