| R. Vaithilingam | |
| Office: | Minister of Housing & Urban Development |
| Term Start: | 2011 |
| Term End: | 2016 |
| 1Blankname: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata: | J.Jayalalithaa O. Panneerselvam |
| Office1: | Minister of Forest & Environment Government of Tamil Nadu |
| Term Start1: | 2001 |
| Term End1: | 2006 |
| 1Blankname1: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata1: | J.Jayalalithaa O. Panneerselvam |
| Office2: | Member of Legislative Assembly |
| Duplicate-Term Start2: | 2001 |
| Duplicate-Term End2: | 2016 |
| Term Start2: | 2021 |
| Term End2: | incumbent |
| Party: | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Until 2022) |
| Office4: | Deputy Co-ordinator of AIADMK |
| Alongside4: | K. P. Munusamy |
| Term Start4: | 21 August 2017 |
| Term End4: | 23 June 2022 |
| Predecessor4: | position established |
| Successor4: | position abolished |
| Office5: | THANJAVUR District head of AIADMK |
| Term Start5: | 2020 |
| Term End5: | 2022 |
| Office3: | Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha |
| Term Start3: | 30 June 2016 |
| Term End3: | 10 May 2021 |
| Constituency: | Tamil Nadu |
R. Vaithilingam is an Indian politician and an ex- Rajya Sabha member from the state of Tamil Nadu. He is now present Member of legislative assembly from Orathanad constituency in the state assembly election of 2021.
Vaithilingam was Minister for Housing and Urban Development in the Government of Tamil Nadu prior to his defeat by M. Ramachandran in the state assembly election of 2016. The defeat was described as a giant-killing outcome.[1] As a cadre of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), he had been elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Orathanad constituency in 2001,[2] 2006[3] and 2011.[4]
On 3 June 2016, he was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha, along with three others of his party.[5] [6]
On 11 July 2022, R. Vaithilingam along with O. Panneerselvam were expelled as primary members of the party for "anti-party" activities by the AIADMK General Council.[7] [8]