The Martin family, which runs the Martin Group known for its large lottery business, has been a significant political donor in recent years.
The heaviest among these three members is Aadhav Arjuna Reddy, one of the most trusted lieutenants of Vijay.
Assembly Elections 2026: Three members of businessman Santiago Martin’s family, popularly known as the lottery king of India, have won assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, marking a rare political moment with victories spread across different parties.
Martin’s wife, son-in-law, and son, Leema Rose Martin, Aadhav Arjuna and Jose Charles Martin, respectively, contested from three different parties and drew victories in their respective constituencies.
Leema won from the Lalgudi constituency in Tamil Nadu on an AIADMK ticket, defeating her closest rival by over 2,500 votes. The result is significant as Lalgudi, long considered a stronghold of the DMK, shifted to the AIADMK after more than two decades.
Aadhav Arjuna, Martin’s son-in-law and a senior leader in actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), secured a decisive win from the Vikkivakkam constituency, winning by over 17,000 votes. His victory adds to the growing political footprint of the newly formed TVK.
In Puducherry, Jose Charles Martin, son of Santiago Martin, won the Kamaraj Nagar seat by a margin of more than 10,000 votes. He contested on a ticket from his own party, Latchiya Jananayaka Katchi (LJK), which made its electoral debut and is aligned with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Assembly Polls Results 2026
Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has delivered a strong debut performance, emerging as the clear frontrunner with 108 seats.
The DMK is a distant second with 59 seats, followed by the AIADMK at 47, while the Congress manages just 5 seats. The verdict marks a sharp political churn in the state, with TVK establishing itself as the dominant force on its first electoral outing.
Meanwhile, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retained power in Puducherry. NR Congress won 12 seats and BJP four in the 30-member Puducherry assembly.
All About Martin Family
The Martin family, which runs the Martin Group known for its large lottery business, has been a significant political donor in recent years. As per reports, the group has contributed around Rs 1,300 crore to various political parties through electoral bonds.
While the group has also faced scrutiny from enforcement agencies in the past, the simultaneous electoral success of three family members- across party lines- highlights its expanding presence in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
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