[1] Selvaraj was a Dalit and served as Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, Hill Tribes and Bonded Labour during the DMK-led government of 1996-2001.
[2] In October 1998, he was one of four DMK ministers sent to help relieve tensions in Ramanathapuram district after violence between Dalits and members of the Thevar caste had resulted in 11 deaths.
[3] Later, in the 2001 elections, the perceived pro-Dalit stance of the DMK resulted in a backlash by voters from the Other Backwards Classes and Selvaraj's assembly seat was among those lost.
[5] He had also been investigated in 2002 when the new Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) targeted several officials from the prior DMK government whom she considered held assets that were disproportionate to their income.
There were suggestions that Jayalalithaa was engaging in a political tit-for-tat related to court cases filed against AIADMK people by the DMK when that party had been in power.