Transition metal complexes of Co(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) with a novel bisazo dye 2, 21 [benzene-1, 3-diyl di(E) diazene 2,1-diyl] bis (4-chloroaniline) derived from mphenylenediamine and p-chloroaniline were synthesized. Characterization of these compounds has been done on the basis of elemental analysis, electronic data, FT-IR, 1H NMR, powder X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis (TGA) and magnetic data. From the analytical and thermal data, the stoichiometry of the complexes has been found to be 1:1 (metal: ligand). On the basis of physicochemical data octahedral, tetrahedral and square planar geometries were assigned for the complexes. The ligand and metal complexes were screened for their antimicrobial activity.