G. K. Mani

Govindapadi Kanthasami Mani, popularly known as G. K. Mani is an Indian politician from Tamil Nadu. He served the honorary president of Pattali Makkal Katchi, a caste-based political party in Tamil Nadu, from 1997 to 2022 . G.K. Mani's name was proposed by PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss during the party's general body meeting on 31 December 1997 for President's post in PMK. Later the same year, he was elected by votes for the PMK's President.

G. K. Mani, was born in Govindapadi Village, Kolathur, Salem District, and belongs to the Vanniyar community. His involvement in social work began as teacher in a Govt. Aided School in his village. He subsequently joined the Social Service Society (SSS), which was later merged with the Vanniyar Sangam, a social organization founded by Dr. S. Ramadoss that aimed to provide the Vanniyar community with social and economic mobility.

In 1984, G. K. Mani, was first one to be elected as Union Chairman for Kolathur under the Vanniyar Sangam Banner. He is the first political representative from Vanniyar Sangam even before the PMK party was formed, and is currently a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Pennagaram constituency, having been elected most recently in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections. He has represented Pennagaram three times; he was first elected in 1996, reelected in 2001, and again 2021. He was also elected one time from Mettur constituency in 2006. He remains an active leader in the affairs of the Pattali Makkal Katchi and in the Vanniyar community more generally.