# Vilathikulam Assembly constituency

Vilathikulam is one of the 234 state legislative assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, in southern India. It is also one of the 6 state legislative assembly constituencies included in the Thoothukkudi Lok Sabha constituency. It is one of the oldest assembly segments in Tamil Nadu since Independence.

## List of members of legislative assembly

| Election | Assembly | Member | Political Party | Tenure |
| 1952 | 1st | P. Selvaraj | Indian National Congress | 1952-1957 |
| 1967 | 4th | M. Rathinasabapathy | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1967-1971 |
| 1971 | 5th | M. Rathinasabapathy | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1971-1977 |
| 1977 | 6th | R. K. Perumal | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1977-1980 |
| 1980 | 7th | R. K. Perumal | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1980-1984 |
| 1984 | 8th | S. Kumaragurubara Ramanathan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1984-1989 |
| 1989 | 9th | K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1989-1991 |
| 1991 | 10th | N. C. Kanagavalli | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1991-1996 |
| 1996 | 11th | K. Ravisankar | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1996-2001 |
| 2001 | 12th | N. K. Perumal | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2001-2006 |
| 2006 | 13th | P. Chinnappan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2006-2011 |
| 2011 | 14th | V. Markandayan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2011-2016 |
| 2016 | 15th | K. Uma Maheswari | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2016-2019 |
| 2019 | 15th | P. Chinnappan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2019-2021 |
| 2021 | 16th | V. Markandayan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2021-Incumbent |

## Election results

Vote share of Winning candidates :
| 2021 | 2021 | 54.38% | 54.38% |
| 2019 By-election | 2019 By-election | 44.32% | 44.32% |
| 2016 | 2016 | 46.79% | 46.79% |
| 2011 | 2011 | 54.58% | 54.58% |
| 2006 | 2006 | 46.73% | 46.73% |
| 2001 | 2001 | 48.16% | 48.16% |
| 1996 | 1996 | 32.10% | 32.10% |
| 1991 | 1991 | 62.10% | 62.10% |
| 1989 | 1989 | 36.59% | 36.59% |
| 1984 | 1984 | 40.52% | 40.52% |
| 1980 | 1980 | 53.75% | 53.75% |
| 1977 | 1977 | 38.39% | 38.39% |
| 1971 | 1971 | 57.33% | 57.33% |
| 1967 | 1967 | 37.47% | 37.47% |
| 1952 | 1952 | 50.44% | 50.44% |

### 2021

2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | G. V. Markandayan | 90,348 | 54.38% | +19.84 |
| | AIADMK | P. Chinnappan | 51,799 | 31.18% | −15.61 |
| | NTK | R. Balaji | 11,828 | 7.12% | +5.96 |
| | AMMK | K. Seeni Selvi | 6,657 | 4.01% | New |
| | MNM | X. Wilson | 1,520 | 0.91% | New |
| | PT | C. Muthukumar | 1,055 | 0.64% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 1,036 | 0.62% | −0.41 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 38,549 | 23.20% | 10.95% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 166,133 | 76.72% | 2.44% |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 264 | 0.16% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 216,542 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | 27.77% | |

#### 2019 By-election

2019 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly bye-election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | P. Chinnappan | 70,139 | 44.32 | 2.47 |
| | DMK | A. C. Jayakumar | 41,585 | 26.28 | 8.26 |
| | Independent | G. V. Markandayan | 27,456 | 17.35 | New |
| | AMMK | K. Jothimony | 9,695 | 6.13 | New |
| | NTK | M. Kalidoss | 4,628 | 2.93 | 1.77 |
| | MNM | T. Natarajan | 1,399 | 0.88 | New |
| | None of the Above | None of the Above | 1,386 | 0.88 | 0.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28,554 | 18.04 | 5.79 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 158,289 | 75.65 | 1.37 |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 2.47 | |

### 2016

2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | K. Uma Maheswari | 71,496 | 46.79% | −7.79 |
| | DMK | S. Beemaraj | 52,778 | 34.54% | New |
| | TMC(M) | P. Kathirvel | 15,030 | 9.84% | New |
| | BJP | P. Rama Moorthy | 6,441 | 4.22% | +3.09 |
| | NTK | G. N. Marudhanayagam | 1,766 | 1.16% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 1,581 | 1.03% | New |
| | BSP | I. Subbulakshmi | 850 | 0.56% | −0.51 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 18,718 | 12.25% | −4.70% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 152,795 | 74.28% | −1.72% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 205,689 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | -7.79% | |

### 2011

2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | G. V. Markandayan | 72,753 | 54.58% | +7.85 |
| | INC | K. Perumalsamy | 50,156 | 37.63% | New |
| | Independent | M. Karuthu Maiyanan | 2,378 | 1.78% | New |
| | Independent | G. Manthiramuthu | 1,795 | 1.35% | New |
| | BJP | K. Sundaramoorthy | 1,499 | 1.12% | −0.11 |
| | BSP | S. Ayyadurai | 1,423 | 1.07% | −3.08 |
| | Independent | P. S. Ayyanar | 1,102 | 0.83% | New |
| | Independent | G. Nadaraj | 806 | 0.60% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 22,597 | 16.95% | 9.08% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 133,292 | 76.01% | 10.27% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 175,367 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 7.85% | |

### 2006

2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | P. Chinnappan | 45,409 | 46.73% | −1.43 |
| | DMK | K. Rajaram | 37,755 | 38.85% | +7.22 |
| | DMDK | S. Balakrishnan | 5,779 | 5.95% | New |
| | PT | Lingaraj | 4,026 | 4.14% | New |
| | BJP | V. P. Jayaraj | 1,197 | 1.23% | New |
| | Independent | A. Nataraj | 1,077 | 1.11% | New |
| | AIFB | R. Murugapandian | 710 | 0.73% | New |
| | Independent | M. Gandhi | 541 | 0.56% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,654 | 7.88% | −8.65% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 97,171 | 65.73% | 4.85% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 147,823 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | -1.43% | |

### 2001

2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | N. K. Perumal | 44,415 | 48.16% | +20.63 |
| | DMK | R. K. P. Rajasekaran | 29,172 | 31.63% | −0.47 |
| | MDMK | Kumara Gurubara Ramanathan | 16,237 | 17.61% | −13.82 |
| | Independent | K. Boominathan | 1,331 | 1.44% | New |
| | Independent | K. Selvaraj | 1,066 | 1.16% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 15,243 | 16.53% | 15.85% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 92,221 | 60.88% | −4.40% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 151,571 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 16.06% | |

### 1996

1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | K. Ravisankar | 30,190 | 32.10% | −4.9 |
| | MDMK | Vai. Gopalsamy | 29,556 | 31.43% | New |
| | AIADMK | N. K. Perumal | 25,891 | 27.53% | −34.57 |
| | PMK | Krishna Kanthan Yadhav | 3,374 | 3.59% | New |
| | Independent | K. Shanmugavel | 1,749 | 1.86% | New |
| | Independent | A. Selvarajar | 1,369 | 1.46% | New |
| | BJP | P. Rajammal | 918 | 0.98% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 634 | 0.67% | −24.43% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 94,040 | 65.29% | 5.15% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 149,924 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -30.00% | |

### 1991

1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | N. C. Kanagavalli | 53,713 | 62.10% | +25.51 |
| | DMK | K. Muthuraj | 32,004 | 37.00% | +9.03 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 21,709 | 25.10% | 16.48% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 86,489 | 60.13% | −10.16% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 147,419 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 25.51% | |

### 1989

1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran | 33,951 | 36.59% | +3.98 |
| | DMK | S. Kumaragurubara Ramanathan | 25,955 | 27.97% | −12.55 |
| | AIADMK | M. Deivendran | 21,486 | 23.16% | −9.46 |
| | INC | K. S. K. Subba Reddiar | 6,247 | 6.73% | New |
| | Independent | P. Subburam | 3,624 | 3.91% | New |
| | Independent | M. John | 691 | 0.74% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,996 | 8.62% | 0.71% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 92,781 | 70.29% | 1.15% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 134,566 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | -3.93% | |

### 1984

1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | S. Kumara Kurubara Ramanathan | 32,481 | 40.52% | −4.47 |
| | AIADMK | R. K. Perumal | 26,143 | 32.62% | −21.14 |
| | Independent | M. Deivendran | 20,326 | 25.36% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 6,338 | 7.91% | −0.86% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 80,153 | 69.14% | 3.24% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 121,435 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -13.23% | |

### 1980

1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | R. K. Perumal | 40,728 | 53.75% | +15.37 |
| | DMK | S. Kumaragurubara Ramanathan | 34,088 | 44.99% | +31.8 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 6,640 | 8.76% | 3.65% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 75,766 | 65.90% | 7.45% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 116,745 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 15.37% | |

### 1977

1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | R. K. Perumal | 25,384 | 38.39% | New |
| | INC | K. Subba Reddiar | 22,001 | 33.27% | −5.61 |
| | DMK | A. K. Kondu Reddiar | 8,720 | 13.19% | −44.14 |
| | JP | A. A. Arulanandam | 8,452 | 12.78% | New |
| | Independent | Ramaswamy Reddiar | 706 | 1.07% | New |
| | AIFB | K. P. Ganapathy | 579 | 0.88% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 3,383 | 5.12% | −13.33% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 66,125 | 58.44% | −7.76% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 114,745 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | -18.94% | |

### 1971

1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | M. Rathnasabapathy | 32,583 | 57.33% | +19.86 |
| | INC | K. Subba Reddiar | 22,097 | 38.88% | +8.25 |
| | Independent | S. Ramalingam | 2,154 | 3.79% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 10,486 | 18.45% | 12.88% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,834 | 66.20% | −12.06% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 90,503 | | |
| | DMK hold | DMK hold | Swing | 19.86% | |

### 1967

1967 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | M. Rathnasabapathy | 23,905 | 37.47% | New |
| | Independent | M. P. S. Reddiar | 20,350 | 31.90% | New |
| | INC | A. L. R. Naicker | 19,540 | 30.63% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 3,555 | 5.57% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,795 | 78.25% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 84,925 | | |
| | DMK win (new seat) | DMK win (new seat) | DMK win (new seat) | DMK win (new seat) | DMK win (new seat) |

### 1952

1952 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Vilathikulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | P. Selvaraj | 18,819 | 50.44% | New |
| | Independent | Sankaralingam | 18,494 | 49.56% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 325 | 0.87% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,313 | 58.57% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,707 | | |
| | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) |