# R. Gandhi

R. Gandhi is an Indian politician and incumbent Minister for Handlooms and Textiles of Tamil Nadu. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly from Ranipet constituency as a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate in 1996, 2006, 2016 and 2021 elections. He was DMK Vellore district secretary (United Vellore district) for more than two decades. Also now he is Ranipet district DMK secretary.

## Electoral performance

2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election : Ranipet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | R. Gandhi | 103,291 | 50.18% | +7.34 |
| | AIADMK | S. M. Sugumar | 86,793 | 42.17% | +3.46 |
| | NTK | V. Shylaja | 10,234 | 4.97% | New |
| | MNM | M. Atham Basha | 2,762 | 1.34% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 1,632 | 0.79% | −0.32 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 16,498 | 8.02% | 3.88% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 205,830 | 77.24% | 0.17% |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 320 | 0.16% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 266,481 | | |
| | DMK hold | DMK hold | Swing | 7.34% | |
2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election : Ranipet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | R. Gandhi | 81,724 | 42.85% | −1.3 |
| | AIADMK | C. Elumalai | 73,828 | 38.71% | −14.44 |
| | PMK | M. K. Murali | 23,850 | 12.50% | New |
| | DMDK | S. Nithiyanandham | 5,906 | 3.10% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 2,121 | 1.11% | New |
| | BJP | V. Nagaraj | 1,342 | 0.70% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,896 | 4.14% | −4.86% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 190,742 | 77.07% | −2.35% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 247,501 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -10.30% | |
2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election : Ranipet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | A. Mohammedjan | 83,834 | 53.14% | +17.21 |
| | DMK | R. Gandhi | 69,633 | 44.14% | −10.87 |
| | Independent | R. Murugan | 1,213 | 0.77% | New |
| | BSP | S. Sasikumar | 842 | 0.53% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 14,201 | 9.00% | −10.07% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 157,749 | 79.41% | 5.32% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 198,641 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | -1.86% | |
2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election : Ranipet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | R. Gandhi | 92,584 | 55.01% | +15.54 |
| | AIADMK | R. Thamizharasan | 60,489 | 35.94% | −20.43 |
| | DMDK | N. Paari | 9,058 | 5.38% | New |
| | Independent | K. Shakthivel Nathan | 1,687 | 1.00% | New |
| | Independent | R. Rajesh Kumar | 1,618 | 0.96% | New |
| | BJP | V. Kuppusamy | 1,598 | 0.95% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 32,095 | 19.07% | 2.17% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 168,313 | 74.09% | 9.01% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 227,170 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -1.36% | |
2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election : Ranipet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | M. S. Chandrasekaran | 83,250 | 56.37% | +29.87 |
| | DMK | R. Gandhi | 58,287 | 39.47% | −11.34 |
| | Independent | A. K. A. Manavalan | 1,951 | 1.32% | New |
| | MDMK | J. Damodaran | 1,939 | 1.31% | −4.59 |
| | Independent | Prabakaran M | 987 | 0.67% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 24,963 | 16.90% | −7.40% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 147,686 | 65.08% | −4.77% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 227,057 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 5.57% | |
1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election : Ranipet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | R. Gandhi | 71,346 | 50.80% | +24.38 |
| | AIADMK | M. Masilamani | 37,219 | 26.50% | −26.79 |
| | PMK | K. L. Elavazagan | 21,987 | 15.66% | New |
| | MDMK | J. Hassain | 8,293 | 5.91% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 34,127 | 24.30% | −2.56% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 140,434 | 69.85% | 1.38% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 208,349 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -2.49% | |