O. S. Manian is a member of the 15th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Vedaranyam constituency. He is a staunch loyalist to AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa. He previously represented the Mayiladuturai (Lok Sabha constituency) of Tamil Nadu and is a member of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam political party. J Jayalalithaa appointed Manian as Minister for Handlooms and Textiles in May 2016. This was his first cabinet post in the Government of Tamil Nadu.