In a dramatic shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has made significant inroads in the southern districts, causing a sharp decline in the performance of both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). In the 2021 assembly elections, the DMK alliance had won 40 of the 58 constituencies across 10 southern districts, while the AIADMK had secured the remaining 18. However, in the latest elections, the DMK front has managed to win only 28 seats, with the DMK itself bagging 23, the Congress four, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) one. The AIADMK's tally has plummeted to just five constituencies, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which contested as part of the AIADMK alliance, drew a blank. In stark contrast, the TVK, contesting for the first time, has won 25 seats in these southern districts.
Madurai: A Former AIADMK Stronghold Crumbles
Madurai district, once a bastion of the AIADMK, witnessed a complete rout of the party this time. All its candidates, including former MLAs R B Udhayakumar, Sellur K Raju, and V V Rajan Chellappa, faced defeat. In the 2016 elections, the AIADMK had won eight of the ten constituencies in the district, with the DMK winning two. In 2021, both parties had secured five seats each. However, in the current election, the TVK has swept eight constituencies, while the DMK and the Congress have won one each.
Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, and Virudhunagar: Mixed Results
In Ramanathapuram district, the DMK retained three of the four seats it won in 2021: Ramanathapuram, Paramakudi, and Mudukulathur. However, TVK candidate Rajeev defeated the incumbent Congress MLA R M Karumanickam by 2,513 votes in Tiruvadanai. In Dindigul district, DMK ministers I Periyasamy and R Sakkarapani emerged victorious in Athoor and Oddanchatram, respectively. Incumbent Palani MLA I P Senthilkumar, who contested from Dindigul, defeated AIADMK heavyweight Dindigul C Sreenivasan. The DMK also won in Vedasandur. Out of the seven constituencies in the district, the DMK won four, the AIADMK two (Palani and Natham), and the TVK one (Nilakottai). In Virudhunagar district, ministers K K S S R Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu won in Aruppukottai and Tiruchuli after tough contests. DMK's A Kadarkarairaj defeated BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran. The TVK's P Selvam defeated DMDK's Vijaya Prabhakaran by 9,391 votes in Virudhunagar. TVK candidate S Keerthana defeated sitting Congress MLA G Ashokan by 11,670 votes, pushing AIADMK heavyweight K T Rajenthra Bhalaji to third place. The TVK also won in Srivilliputhur and Rajapalayam. Out of the seven constituencies in the district, the TVK won four, while the DMK won three.
Sivaganga, Theni, and Tuticorin: TVK Dominates
The TVK made a clean sweep of all four constituencies in Sivaganga district: Karaikudi, Sivaganga, Manamadurai, and Tiruppatur. In a tight contest, TVK's R Seenivasa Sethupathy defeated DMK minister K R Periyakaruppan by a single vote in Tirupatur. In Karaikudi, TVK's T K Prabhu defeated Congress MLA S Mangudi by 46,074 votes. In Theni district, the DMK won in Bodinayakkanur and Andipatti, while the TVK bagged Periyakulam and Cumbum. Former chief minister O Panneerselvam, who recently joined the DMK, won in Bodinayakkanur. In Andipatti, DMK's sitting MLA A Maharajan defeated his brother and AIADMK candidate A Logirajan for the third time. In Tuticorin district, the TVK bagged three of the six seats: Tuticorin, Srivaikuntam, and Ottapidaram, while the DMK won in Vilathikulam, Tiruchendur, and Kovilpatti. TVK's Srinath defeated DMK minister P Geetha Jeevan in Tuticorin. However, minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan defeated TVK's J Murugan. While the DMK won in Kovilpatti, incumbent AIADMK MLA Kadambur Raju was pushed to third place.
Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari: TVK Makes Gains
In Tirunelveli district, the TVK bagged three of the five constituencies: Nanguneri, Tirunelveli, and Radhapuram. TVK candidate Sathish Christopher defeated incumbent MLA and assembly speaker M Appavu by 12,313 votes. While the DMK won in Palayamkottai, the AIADMK won in Ambasamudram. In Tenkasi district, the DMK won in four constituencies (Vasudevanallur, Kadayanallur, Tenkasi, and Alangulam) out of five, while the AIADMK won in Sankarankovil. Manoj Pandian, who recently joined the DMK, won in Alangulam. Kanyakumari district kept the TVK at bay. Out of the six seats, the DMK and its allies Congress and CPM won in five, while the AIADMK won in the Kanyakumari constituency. TVK candidates secured second place in Vilavancode, Killiyoor, Padmanabhapuram, Nagercoil, and Colachel, and third in Kanyakumari.
