Nagendran served variously as a Minister for Electricity, Industry and Transport during the AIADMK-led government of 2001–2006. He was not a member of the cabinet during the AIADMK government led by Jayalalithaa from 2011 but he said it was her death and the subsequent rudderless situation in which the party found itself that caused his move to the BJP in 2017.
In 2021, as a BJP candidate Nagendran has been elected to Tamil Nadu state assembly from Tirunelveli constituency for the third time defeating the DMK candidate by a margin of 23,107 votes. In addition he has been also selected as the leader of BJP members in Tamil Nadu assembly.[1]
Tamil Nadu's Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption conducted raids in 12 places belonging to Nagendran in various parts of Chennai city and in his native place of southern Tirunelveli district and in Kochi.[6] Later, investigation conducted in 2006 revealed the accumulation of Nainar Nagendran's assets in excess of his income when he was a minister of Industry, Power and Transport during the AIADMK rule. Vigilant police investigation has revealed that Nagendran bought property including gold jewellery and lands for more than 3 crore 9 lakh 97 thousand 97 rupees.[7] A chargesheet was filed in December 2010 against Nainar Nagendran his wife and four other relatives under the Prevention of Corruption Act for Rs 3.9 crore disproportionate assets case by Directorate of Vigilance.[8]
Controversy
Nainar Nagendran has sent death threats against acclaimed Tamil lyricist and writer Vairamuthu in January 2018 for his controversial remarks on Andal. Nagendran has announced that BJP leaders are ready to award a cash reward of ₹10 crore if anyone slays and chops the tongue of writer Vairamuthu. He also said there should be no hesitation in killing even those people who speak ill of Hinduism.[9][10] This created a huge controversy in Tamil Nadu.[11] Later, he was arrested together with Hindu Munnani state vice-president VC Jayabalan for provocative hate speech that would cause divisiveness among the people and posed a threat to national unity.[12]