| M. Arunachalam | |
| Native Name: | அருணாச்சலம் |
| Birth Date: | 03-03-1944 |
| Birth Place: | Vellanaikottai, Tinnevely District Madras Presidency, British Raj (now Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Residence: | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Death Date: | 21-01-2004 |
| Death Place: | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Office1: | Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers |
| Primeminister1: | Inder Kumar Gujral |
| Term1: | June 1997–December 1997 |
| Constituency1: | Tenkasi |
| Office2: | Minister of Labour and Employment |
| Primeminister2: | H. D. Deve Gowda |
| Term2: | August 1996–May 1997 |
| Constituency2: | Tenkasi |
| Office3: | Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs |
| Term3: | 1996 |
| Primeminister3: | H.D. Deve Gowda |
| Constituency3: | Tenkasi |
| Office4: | Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |
| Term4: | 1993–1995 |
| Primeminister4: | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| Constituency4: | Tenkasi |
| Office5: | Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs |
| Term5: | 1991–1993 |
| Primeminister5: | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| Constituency5: | Tenkasi |
| Office6: | Minister of State for Commerce and Industry |
| Term6: | 1985–1989 |
| Primeminister6: | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Office7: | Member of Union Committee on Subordinate Legislation |
| Term7: | January 1990 to September 1990 |
| Primeminister7: | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Office8: | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha |
| Term Start8: | 1977 |
| Term End8: | 1998 |
| Predecessor8: | A. M. C.Nellachami |
| Successor8: | S. Murugesan |
| Office9: | President of Tamilnadu Youth Congress |
| Term Start9: | 1977 |
| Term End9: | 1981 |
| Office10: | District Youth Congress Secretary, Tirunelveli District |
| Term Start10: | 1972 |
| Term End10: | 1977 |
| Party: | Indian National Congress (1966-1996) and (2002-2004)Tamil Maanila Congress (1996-2002) |
| Religion: | Hinduism |
| Children: | Mohan Arunachalam, Sangeetha, Priya, Deepan Arunachalam |
| Website: | http://www.arunachalam.net |
| Source: | https://loksabha.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=26&lastls=17 |
M. Arunachalam (4 March 1944 – 21 January 2004), was an Indian politician and Union Minister. Arunachalam did his B.L. from Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai and he did his pre-university course from V.O. Chidambaram College at Thoothukudi, and got graduated from St.Xaviers college, Palayamkottai, had pursued his post-graduation from Gandhigram University, Dindigul. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tenkasi constituency for six times continuously. He was elected as an Indian National Congress candidate in 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989 and 1991 elections and as a Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) candidate in 1996 election.
M.Arunachalam was born on 4 March 1944 to Mr.Moockiah and Mrs.Muthammal in Vellanaikottai village, in the Tenkasi district of Tamilnadu. He did his pre-university course from V.O.Chidambram College Tuticorin, graduated from St.Xaviers college, Palayamkottai, had his post-graduation from Gandhigram University, Dindugul, and Bachelor of Law from Law College, Chennai.
After he got his law degree, his ambition of becoming a lawyer was fulfilled. He started his career as a junior advocate under T.S. Ramanatha Iyer – a straightforward, upright person with Gandhian principles who was called ‘Tiger of the bar’ in Tenkasi. By sheer hard work and perseverance, he had a roaring practice, soon he established an office for himself and expanded it with four colleagues and two juniors. He was selected for the post of Munsif for Pondicherry Sessions court, which he did not want to join.
He was married to Amala in 1974 and has 4 children namely: Mohan Arunachalam, Sangeetha, Priya, Deepan Arunachalam
As a mere party volunteer, he was Youth Congress Secretary in Tirunelveli (District Congress Committee). In 1977 he first contested, won and became the Member of Parliament from Tenkasi constituency and continued to hold the seat till 1998. He was also appointed as Union Cabinet Minister for 3 times and State Minister for 3 times in his political career.
| Elections | Constituency | Party | Result | Vote percentage | Opposition Candidate | Opposition Party | Opposition vote percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 Indian general election | Tenkasi | INC | 67.6 | Rajagopalan S | INC(O) | 26.2 | |
| 1980 Indian general election | INC | 53.4 | Rajagopalan S | JP | 36.6 | ||
| 1984 Indian general election | INC | 64.7 | R.Krishnan | CPM | 30.3 | ||
| 1989 Indian general election | INC | 62.5 | R.Krishnan | CPM|INC(O) | 35.04 | ||
| 1991 Indian general election | INC | 63.56 | T. Sadhan Tirumalaikumar | DMK | 33.24 | ||
| 1996 Indian general election | TMC | 44.98 | Selvaraj.V | INC | 30.14 | ||
| 1998 Indian general election | TMC | 26.77 | S. Murugesan | AIADMK | 41.84 |
M. Arunachalam died of cardiac arrest on 21 January 2004 in Chennai at the age of 60.