# Tirunelveli Assembly constituency

Tirunelveli is an assembly constituency located in Tirunelveli Lok Sabha Constituency in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the oldest assembly segments in Tamil Nadu since Independence. Tirunelveli was one of 17 assembly constituencies to have VVPAT facility with EVMs in 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. Tirunelveli voted for the party that forms government in the state except for 2016 and 2021 respectively. It is one of the 234 State Legislative Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

## Madras State assembly

| Year | Winner | Party |
| 1952 | Arumugam S. N. Somayajulu | Indian National Congress |
| 1957 | Rajathi Kunjithapatham | Indian National Congress |
| 1962 | Rajathi Kunjithapatham | Indian National Congress |
| 1967 | A. L. Subramanian | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |

## Tamil Nadu assembly

| Year | Winner | Party |
| 1971 | P. Padmanabhan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1977 | G. R. Edmund | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1980 | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1984 | S. Narayanan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1986 | R. M. Veerappan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1989 | A. L. Subramanian | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1991 | D. Veliah Thevar | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1996 | A. L. Subramanian | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2001 | Nainar Nagendran | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2006 | N. Malai Raja | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2011 | Nainar Nagendran | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2016 | A. L. S. Lakshmanan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2021 | Nainar Nagendran | Bharatiya Janata Party |

## Election Results

Vote share of Winning candidates :
| 2021 | 2021 | 46.70% | 46.70% |
| 2016 | 2016 | 43.13% | 43.13% |
| 2011 | 2011 | 54.81% | 54.81% |
| 2006 | 2006 | 45.85% | 45.85% |
| 2001 | 2001 | 40.93% | 40.93% |
| 1996 | 1996 | 52.48% | 52.48% |
| 1991 | 1991 | 62.81% | 62.81% |
| 1989 | 1989 | 35.55% | 35.55% |
| 1984 | 1984 | 59.57% | 59.57% |
| 1980 | 1980 | 57.96% | 57.96% |
| 1977 | 1977 | 38.50% | 38.50% |
| 1971 | 1971 | 62.16% | 62.16% |
| 1967 | 1967 | 61.74% | 61.74% |
| 1962 | 1962 | 36.89% | 36.89% |
| 1957 | 1957 | 27.25% | 27.25% |
| 1952 | 1952 | 23.55% | 23.55% |

### 2021

2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Nainar Nagendran | 92,282 | 47.20% | +44.03 |
| | DMK | A. L. S. Lakshmanan | 69,175 | 35.38% | −7.74 |
| | NTK | B. Sathya | 19,162 | 9.80% | +8.69 |
| | AMMK | A. P. Mahesh Kannan | 8,911 | 4.56% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 2,091 | 1.07% | −0.1 |
| | Independent | M. Sivakumar | 1,412 | 0.72% | New |
| | Independent | Srithar Rajan | 1,342 | 0.69% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 23,107 | 11.82% | 11.50% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 195,496 | 66.86% | −3.63% |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 408 | 0.21% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 292,411 | | |
| | BJP gain from DMK | BJP gain from DMK | Swing | 4.08% | |

### 2016

2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | A. L. S. Lakshmanan | 81,761 | 43.13% | +12.79 |
| | AIADMK | Nainar Nagendran | 81,160 | 42.81% | −12 |
| | DMDK | S. Madasamy | 8,640 | 4.56% | New |
| | BJP | A. Maharajan | 6,017 | 3.17% | +2.02 |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 2,218 | 1.17% | New |
| | NTK | A. Viyanarasu | 2,106 | 1.11% | New |
| | Independent | G. Velammal | 2,029 | 1.07% | New |
| | PMK | Ganesan Kannan | 1,884 | 0.99% | New |
| | Independent | P. Rajkumar | 1,377 | 0.73% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 601 | 0.32% | −24.15% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 189,576 | 70.48% | −6.20% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 268,968 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -11.68% | |

### 2011

2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | Nainar Nagendran | 86,220 | 54.81% | +9.39 |
| | DMK | A. L. S. Lakshmanan | 47,729 | 30.34% | −15.5 |
| | JMM | G. Velammal | 7,771 | 4.94% | New |
| | Independent | C. Pasupathipandian | 4,307 | 2.74% | New |
| | IJK | S. Madhan | 2,696 | 1.71% | New |
| | BJP | G. Murugadhas | 1,815 | 1.15% | −0.43 |
| | Independent | M. Subramanian | 1,200 | 0.76% | New |
| | Independent | P. Ramakrishnan | 975 | 0.62% | New |
| | Independent | K. Vedantham | 969 | 0.62% | New |
| | Independent | C. Madasamy | 814 | 0.52% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 38,491 | 24.47% | 24.05% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 157,304 | 76.68% | 4.62% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 205,146 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 8.97% | |

### 2006

2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | N. Malai Raja | 65,517 | 45.85% | +5.61 |
| | AIADMK | Nainar Nagendran | 64,911 | 45.42% | +4.49 |
| | Independent | S. Jayachandran | 4,080 | 2.85% | New |
| | AIFB | S. Nambirajan | 2,709 | 1.90% | New |
| | BJP | K. M. Sivakumar | 2,257 | 1.58% | New |
| | BSP | A. Jeyakumar | 1,406 | 0.98% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 606 | 0.42% | −0.27% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 142,908 | 72.06% | 18.94% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 198,312 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | 4.92% | |

### 2001

2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | Nainar Nagendran | 42,765 | 40.93% | +8.88 |
| | DMK | A. L. Subramanian | 42,043 | 40.24% | −12.24 |
| | SP | S. Saravanaperumal | 11,025 | 10.55% | New |
| | MDMK | R. Shanmugasundaram | 4,980 | 4.77% | −3.38 |
| | Independent | P. Jabarullakhan | 1,595 | 1.53% | New |
| | CPI(ML)L | T. Sankarapandian | 782 | 0.75% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 722 | 0.69% | −19.74% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 104,492 | 53.12% | −15.81% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 196,785 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | -11.55% | |

### 1996

1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | A. L. Subramanian | 59,914 | 52.48% | +19.8 |
| | AIADMK | V. Karuppasamy Pandian | 36,590 | 32.05% | −30.76 |
| | MDMK | M. Achiyur Mani | 9,295 | 8.14% | New |
| | PMK | P. Perumal | 3,141 | 2.75% | New |
| | BJP | Su. Chidambaram | 2,171 | 1.90% | New |
| | JP | P. Kalaivanan | 1,661 | 1.45% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 23,324 | 20.43% | −9.70% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 114,165 | 68.93% | 7.04% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 170,499 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -10.33% | |

### 1991

1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | D. Veliah | 63,138 | 62.81% | +39.11 |
| | DMK | A. L. Subramanian | 32,853 | 32.68% | −2.87 |
| | Independent | M. Thandayuthapani | 1,874 | 1.86% | New |
| | PMK | C. Nellaiappan | 1,803 | 1.79% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 30,285 | 30.13% | 21.22% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 100,516 | 61.90% | −10.73% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 165,240 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 27.26% | |

### 1989

1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | A. L. Subramanian | 37,991 | 35.55% | −4.1 |
| | INC | N. S. S. Nellai Kannan | 28,470 | 26.64% | New |
| | AIADMK | V. Masana Moorthy | 25,332 | 23.71% | −35.87 |
| | AIADMK | K. Muthusamy | 12,201 | 11.42% | −48.16 |
| | Independent | G. Gaspar Raja | 1,513 | 1.42% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 9,521 | 8.91% | −11.01% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 106,862 | 72.63% | −2.64% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 149,539 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -24.02% | |

### 1984

1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | S. Narayanan | 56,409 | 59.57% | +1.61 |
| | DMK | A. L. Subramanian | 37,547 | 39.65% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 18,862 | 19.92% | 2.90% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 94,687 | 75.27% | 5.47% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 129,277 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 1.61% | |

### 1980

1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan | 48,338 | 57.96% | +19.46 |
| | INC | Rajathi Kunchithapatham | 34,142 | 40.94% | +13.07 |
| | Independent | Pandian | 613 | 0.74% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 14,196 | 17.02% | 6.39% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 83,394 | 69.79% | 10.30% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 120,570 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 19.46% | |

### 1977

1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | G. R. Edmund | 26,419 | 38.50% | New |
| | INC | Krishnan Alias Nellai Kannan | 19,125 | 27.87% | −9.97 |
| | JP | R. Servaikaren Subbiah | 8,244 | 12.01% | New |
| | DMK | E. Nambi | 8,199 | 11.95% | −50.21 |
| | Independent | M. Abdul Majeed | 6,090 | 8.87% | New |
| | Independent | E. Hariramakrishnan | 545 | 0.79% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,294 | 10.63% | −13.69% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 68,622 | 59.49% | −10.60% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 116,395 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | -23.66% | |

### 1971

1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | P. Padmanabhan | 43,325 | 62.16% | +0.42 |
| | INC | Rajathi Kunchithapatham | 26,373 | 37.84% | +0.19 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 16,952 | 24.32% | 0.24% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 69,698 | 70.10% | −6.74% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 103,204 | | |
| | DMK hold | DMK hold | Swing | 0.42% | |

### 1967

1967 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | A. L. Subramanian | 41,589 | 61.74% | New |
| | INC | M. S. M. Pillai | 25,364 | 37.65% | +0.76 |
| | Independent | M. K. R. Iyenger | 409 | 0.61% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 16,225 | 24.09% | 22.04% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 67,362 | 76.84% | 2.40% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 89,938 | | |
| | DMK gain from INC | DMK gain from INC | Swing | 24.84% | |

### 1962

1962 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Rajathi Kunjithapatham | 25,985 | 36.89% | +9.64 |
| | SWA | Ramasami (Sundaram) | 24,544 | 34.85% | New |
| | IUML | Ahmed Ibrahim | 18,091 | 25.69% | New |
| | PSP | Muthiah Pillai | 809 | 1.15% | New |
| | Independent | S. Rajagopalachari | 702 | 1.00% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 1,441 | 2.05% | −4.40% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 70,430 | 74.44% | −7.61% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 96,617 | | |
| | INC hold | INC hold | Swing | 9.64% | |

### 1957

1957 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Rajathi Kunjithapatham | 38,839 | 27.25% | +3.7 |
| | INC | Somasundaram | 29,648 | 20.80% | −2.75 |
| | Independent | Kandish | 16,886 | 11.85% | New |
| | PSP | Mohammaed Ismail Rowther | 15,695 | 11.01% | New |
| | PSP | Ponnusami (Sc) | 12,388 | 8.69% | New |
| | Independent | Esakimuthu (Sc) | 7,834 | 5.50% | New |
| | Independent | Jacob | 4,834 | 3.39% | New |
| | Independent | Chelliah (Sc) | 4,822 | 3.38% | New |
| | Independent | Sankarasubramania Iyer | 2,791 | 1.96% | New |
| | Independent | Sundaram | 2,781 | 1.95% | New |
| | Independent | Kannappa Pillai | 2,760 | 1.94% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 9,191 | 6.45% | 2.56% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 142,516 | 82.05% | −14.91% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 173,695 | | |
| | INC hold | INC hold | Swing | 3.70% | |

### 1952

1952 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Tirunelveli :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Arumugam | 32,529 | 23.55% | New |
| | INC | S. N. Somayajulu | 27,156 | 19.66% | New |
| | Independent | P. S. Subramania Pillai | 20,470 | 14.82% | New |
| | CPI | Shammaguam | 19,315 | 13.98% | New |
| | Independent | Kankaraj | 16,604 | 12.02% | New |
| | Socialist | Nadarajan Alias Mangala Ponnambalam | 10,458 | 7.57% | New |
| | KMPP | Subramanian | 5,857 | 4.24% | New |
| | Independent | Muthiah | 3,198 | 2.32% | New |
| | Independent | Sethuramalingam Pillai | 2,550 | 1.85% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 5,373 | 3.89% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 138,137 | 96.96% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 142,467 | | |
| | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) |