# 1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

The eleventh legislative assembly election of Tamil Nadu was held on 2 May 1996. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led front won the election securing 221 seats in the 234 seat Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and its leader M. Karunanidhi, became the chief minister.
In the tenth Tamil Nadu assembly, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) held the majority with its leader J. Jayalalithaa as the chief minister. The elections resulted in a landslide defeat for the incumbent government, with the AIADMK winning only four seats. Outgoing chief minister Jayalalithaa lost the election from the Bargur, and became the first incumbent chief minister since M. Bakthavatsalam in 1967 to lose the elections.

## Background
### Anti-Jayalalithaa

The J. Jayalalithaa led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government, which had been in power since 1991 was beset with corruption scandals and public discontent. A series of corruption scandals, a growing reputation for high handedness and an extravagant public wedding for Jayalalithaa's foster son Sudhakaran all combined to erode the AIADMK support base and the goodwill she had enjoyed with the electorate in the 1991 elections.

### Formation of TMC

The AIADMK's alliance with Indian National Congress (INC), which had helped it to win the 1991 elections ran into trouble midway through the AIADMK's term. J. Jayalalithaa terminated the alliance and Congress served as the principal opposition party in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. When the 1996 elections drew closer, it was expected that the Congress would contest the elections in alliance with the DMK. However against the wishes of the Tamil Nadu state unit of the Congress, the national congress leader (and then Indian prime minister) P. V. Narasimha Rao announced that the Congress would ally with the AIADMK. This led to a split in the Tamil Nadu Congress with a majority of the party workers and cadre forming the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) led by G. K. Moopanar. The TMC contested the elections in alliance with the DMK.

### Formation of MDMK

In 1993, the DMK suffered a split when one of its more prominent second rung leaders, Vaiko was expelled from the party membership. The next year Vaiko floated a new party – the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).

### Coalitions

There were four main coalitions in the 1996 elections. The DMK-TMC front which also included the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the AIADMK-Congress front were the main political groupings in the state. Both fronts had a number of smaller parties as constituents. The Indian National League and the All India Forward Bloc were part of the DMK front, while the AIADMK front also had Muslim Leagues, Forward Block, All India Republic Party, Uzhavar Uzhaippalar Katchi and United Communist Party. Apart from these two fronts, there was a MDMK led coalition which included the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), the Janata Dal (JD) and the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP). The alliance between Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and All India Indira Congress (Tiwari) (Tiwari Congress) led by Vazhappady Ramamurthy was the fourth coalition that contested the elections. Initially, before the TMC was formed, the DMK put together a seven party alliance comprising itself, PMK, CPI, Tiwari Congress and a few other parties. However, this alliance fell through when the Tiwari Congress and PMK left the front after differences between Karunanidhi and Ramamurthy. After this, Cho Ramaswamy (editor of Thuglak) played a vital role in bringing together the DMK-TMC coalition and obtaining actor Rajinikanth's support for it. There were a few other smaller political formations and parties contesting the election – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contested the elections alone; Subramanian Swamy's Janata Party contested in alliance with the caste organisation Devendra Kula Velalar Sangam led by Dr. K. Krishnasamy.

### Rajinikanth's support

The DMK-TMC alliance enlisted the popular Tamil film actor Rajinikanth to campaign against the AIADMK in the elections. Rajinikanth declared his support for the DMK-TMC combine and members of his numerous fan clubs campaigned for the DMK front across Tamil Nadu. In a widely watched campaign appearance broadcast in Sun TV, he declared "even God cannot save Tamil Nadu if AIADMK returns to power".Rajinikanth's support gave enormous victory to DMK

## Seat allotments
### DMK-TMC Front

| No. | Party | Leader | Seats |
| 1. | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | M. Karunanidhi | 176 |
| 2. | Tamil Maanila Congress | G.K. Moopanar | 41 |
| 3. | Communist Party of India | R.Nallakannu | 13 |
| 4. | All India Forward Bloc | L. Santhanam | 1 |
| Unrecognized party, whose candidates ran under the DMK ticket |||||
| 5. | Indian National League | Janab | 5 |

### AIADMK-INC Front

| No. | Party | Leader | Seats |
| 1. | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | J. Jayalalithaa | 167 |
| 2. | Indian National Congress | Kumari Anandan | 64 |
| Unrecognized party, whose candidates ran under the AIADMK ticket |||||
| 3. | Indian Union Muslim League | Kader Mohideen | 1 |

### People's Democratic Front

| No. | Party | Leader | Seats |
| 1. | Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | Vaiko | 177 |
| 2. | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | N.Sankaraiah | 40 |
| 3. | Janata Dal | V. P. Singh | 16 |

### PMK-Tiwari Congress Front

| No. | Party | Party | Election Symbol | Leader | Seats |
| 1. | | Pattali Makkal Katchi | | Dr. Ramdoss | 116 |
| 2. | | All India Indira Congress (Tiwari) | | Vazhappady Ramamurthy | 46 |

## Voting and results

Polling took place on 2 May 1996 and results were announced on 12 May. The turnout among registered voters was 66.95%. The assembly elections were held simultaneously along with the 1996 Indian general election.

### Results by Pre-Poll Alliance

Summary of the 1996 June Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election results :
| Alliance/Party | Seats won | Change | Popular Vote | Vote % | Adj. %$^‡$ |
| DMK+ Alliance | 221 | +214 | 14,600,748 | 53.77% | 53.77% |
| DMK | 173 | +171 | 11,423,380 | 42.07% | 54.04% |
| TMC(M) | 39 | +39 | 2,526,474 | 9.3% | 55.21% |
| CPI | 8 | +7 | 575,570 | 2.12% | 42.95% |
| AIFB | 1 | +1 | 75,324 | 0.28% | 76.18% |
| AIADMK+ alliance | 4 | -221 | 7,354,723 | 27.08% | 27.08% |
| AIADMK | 4 | -160 | 5,831,383 | 21.47% | 29.24% |
| INC | 0 | -60 | 1,523,340 | 5.61% | 21.09% |
| MDMK+ alliance | 2 | 0 | 2,143,141 | 7.89% | 7.89% |
| MDMK | 0 | 0 | 1,569,168 | 5.78% | 7.6% |
| CPI(M) | 1 | 0 | 456,712 | 1.68% | 9.57% |
| JD | 1 | 0 | 117,801 | 0.43% | 7.31% |
| PMK+ Alliance | 4 | +3 | 1,252,275 | 4.61% | 4.61% |
| PMK | 4 | +3 | 1,042,333 | 3.84% | 7.61% |
| AIIC(T) | 0 | 0 | 209,942 | 0.77% | 4.23% |
| Others | 3 | +1 | 1,662,926 | 6.12% | 6.12% |
| BJP | 1 | +1 | 490,453 | 1.81% | 2.93% |
| JP | 1 | +1 | 150,134 | 0.55% | 2.51% |
| IND | 1 | 0 | 1,022,339 | 3.76% | 3.8% |
| Total | 234 | – | 27,154,721 | 100% | 100% |

## Constituency results
### List of winners and runners-up by constituency

| Assembly Constituency | Winner | Party | Runner-up | Party | Margin |
| Acharapakkam (SC) | S. Mathivanan | DMK | A. Bhuvaraghamoorthy | AIADMK | 25,371 |
| Alandur | C. Shanmugam | DMK | K. Purushothaman | AIADMK | 75,994 |
| Alangudi | A. Venkatachalam | Independent | S. Erasasekaran | CPI | 652 |
| Alangulam | Aladi Aruna | DMK | M. S. Kamaraj | INC | 24,336 |
| Ambasamudram | R. Avudaiappan | DMK | R. Murugaiah Pandian | AIADMK | 19,689 |
| Anaicut | C. Gopu | DMK | C. M. Suryakala | AIADMK | 31,616 |
| Andhiyur (SC) | P. Selvarasu | DMK | M. Subramaniam | AIADMK | 24,994 |
| Andimadam | Rajendiran | PMK | Sivasubramaniyan | DMK | 13,402 |
| Andipatti | P. Aasiyan | DMK | A. Muthiah | AIADMK | 13,701 |
| Anna Nagar | Arcot N. Veerasami | DMK | R. Balasubramanian | INC | 69,017 |
| Arakkonam (SC) | R. Thamizh Selvan | DMK | R. Elumalai | PMK | 46,820 |
| Arantaki | S. Thirunavukkarasu | AIADMK | S. Shanmugam | DMK | 14,232 |
| Aravakkurichi | S. S. Mohammad Ismail | DMK | V. K. Duraisamy | AIADMK | 9,094 |
| Arcot | P. N. Subramani | DMK | K. V. Ramadoss | AIADMK | 26,407 |
| Ariyalur | D. Amaramoorthy | TMC(M) | A. Elavarasan | AIADMK | 24,894 |
| Arni | R. Sivanandam | DMK | M. Chinnakulandai | AIADMK | 18,179 |
| Aruppukottai | V. Thangapandian | DMK | K. Sundarapandian | AIADMK | 16,365 |
| Athoor | I. Periasamy | DMK | C. Chinnamuthu | AIADMK | 50,292 |
| Attur | A. M. Ramasamy | DMK | A. K. Murugesan | AIADMK | 22,296 |
| Avanashi (SC) | G. Elango | DMK | M. Thiagarajan | AIADMK | 26,457 |
| Bargur | E. G. Sugavanam | DMK | J. Jayalalitha | AIADMK | 8,366 |
| Bhavani | S. N. Balasubramanian | TMC(M) | K. S. Manivannan | AIADMK | 28,829 |
| Bhavanisagar | V. A. Andamuthu | DMK | V. K. Chinnasamy | AIADMK | 23,451 |
| Bhuvanagiri | A. V. Abdul Naser | DMK | P. D. Elangovan | PMK | 19,345 |
| Bodinayakkanur | A. Sudalaimuthu | DMK | S. P. Jayakumar | AIADMK | 26,087 |
| Chengalpattu | V. Tamilmani | DMK | C. V. N. Kumarasamy | AIADMK | 36,805 |
| Chengam (SC) | K. V. Nannan | DMK | C. K. Thamizharasan | AIADMK | 26,633 |
| Chepauk | M. Karunanidhi | DMK | N. S. S. Nellai Kannan | INC | 35,784 |
| Cheranmadevi | P. Veldurai | TMC(M) | P. H. Pandian | Independent | 12,107 |
| Cheyyar | V. Anbalagan | DMK | P. Chandran | AIADMK | 37,486 |
| Chidambaram | K. S. Alagiri | TMC(M) | A. Radhakrishnan | INC | 29,016 |
| Chinnasalem | R. Mookappan | DMK | P. Mohan | AIADMK | 31,645 |
| Coimbatore East | V. K. Lakshmanan | TMC(M) | R. S. Velan | INC | 47,686 |
| Coimbatore West | C. T. Dhandapani | DMK | Raja Thangavel | INC | 38,299 |
| Colachel | Era. Bernard | DMK | S. P. Kutty | BJP | 7,426 |
| Coonoor (SC) | N. Thangavel | DMK | S. Kuppusamy | AIADMK | 35,515 |
| Cuddalore | E. Pugazhenthi | DMK | K. V. Rajendiran | INC | 48,627 |
| Cumbum | O. R. Ramachandran | TMC(M) | R. T. Gopalan | Independent | 35,740 |
| Dharapuram (SC) | R. Saraswathy | DMK | P. Easwaramurthy | AIADMK | 23,038 |
| Dharmapuri | K. Manokaran | DMK | Mase Harur | INC | 37,022 |
| Dindigul | R. Manimaran | DMK | V. Marutharaj | AIADMK | 65,124 |
| Edapadi | I. Ganesan | PMK | P. A. Murugesan | DMK | 9,192 |
| Egmore (SC) | Parithi Ellam Vazhuthi | DMK | N. Lakshmi | INC | 37,185 |
| Erode | N. K. K. Periasamy | DMK | S. Muthusamy | AIADMK | 47,837 |
| Gobichettipalayam | G. P. Venkidu | DMK | K. A. Sengottaiyan | AIADMK | 14,729 |
| Gingee | T. Natarajan | DMK | T. N. Muruganandam | INC | 25,434 |
| Gudalur | B. M. Mubarak | DMK | K. R. Raju | AIADMK | 45,905 |
| Gudiyatham | V. G. Dhanapal | DMK | S. Ramgopal | INC | 29,136 |
| Gummidipundi | K. Venu | DMK | R. S. Munirathinam | AIADMK | 21,625 |
| Harbour | K. Anbazhagan | DMK | Paul Earnest | INC | 30,256 |
| Harur (SC) | Vedammal | DMK | J. Natesan | INC | 36,403 |
| Hosur | B. Venkatasamy | JD | T. Venkata Reddy | TMC(M) | 1,737 |
| Ilayangudi | M. Tamilkudimagan | DMK | V. D. Nadarajan | AIADMK | 14,804 |
| Jayankondam | K. C. Ganesan | DMK | Gurunathan | PMK | 12,490 |
| Kadaladi | S. P. Thangavelan | DMK | V. Sathiyamoorthy | AIADMK | 19,970 |
| Kadayanallur | K. Naina Mohammed | DMK | A. M. Gani | AIADMK | 16,692 |
| Kalasapakkam | P. S. Thiruvengadam | DMK | M. Sundarasami | INC | 34,530 |
| Kancheepuram | P. Murugesan | DMK | S. S. Thirunavukkarasu | AIADMK | 32,629 |
| Kandamangalam (SC) | S. Alaguvelu | DMK | V. Subramaniyan | AIADMK | 29,995 |
| Kangayam | N. S. Rajkumar Manraadiar | DMK | N. Ramasamy | AIADMK | 26,009 |
| Kanyakumari | N. Suresh Rajan | DMK | S. Thanu Pillai | AIADMK | 21,863 |
| Kapilamalai | K. K. Veerappan | DMK | R. Rajalingam | AIADMK | 29,710 |
| Karaikudi | N. Sundaram | TMC(M) | M. Raju | AIADMK | 50,384 |
| Karur | Vasuki Murugesan | DMK | M. Chinnasamy | AIADMK | 32,008 |
| Katpadi | Durai Murugan | DMK | K. Pandurangan | AIADMK | 41,007 |
| Kattumannarkoil (SC) | E. Ramalingam | DMK | L. Elayaperumal | HRPI | 9,819 |
| Kaveripattinam | P. V. S. Venkatesan | DMK | K. P. Munusamy | AIADMK | 35,859 |
| Killiyur | D. Kumaradas | TMC(M) | C. Santhakumar | BJP | 10,417 |
| Kinathukadavu | M. Shanmugham | DMK | K. M. Mylswamy | AIADMK | 13,964 |
| Kolathur (SC) | Selvaraj alias Kavithapithan | DMK | A. Karuppayee | AIADMK | 24,156 |
| Kovilpatti | L. Ayyalusamy | CPI | K. S. Radhakrishnan | MDMK | 7,487 |
| Krishnagiri | Kanchana Kamalanathan | DMK | K. P. Kathavarayan | AIADMK | 35,611 |
| Krishnarayapuram (SC) | S. Nagarathinam | DMK | A. Arivalagan | AIADMK | 15,177 |
| Kulittalai | R. Selvam | DMK | A. Pappa Sundaram | AIADMK | 17,750 |
| Kumbakonam | K. S. Mani | DMK | Erama Eramanatham | AIADMK | 35,310 |
| Kurinjipadi | M. R. K. Panneerselvam | DMK | P. Pandarinathan | AIADMK | 39,013 |
| Kuttalam | P. Kalayanam Kuttalam | DMK | M. Rajendiran | AIADMK | 25,721 |
| Lalgudi | K. N. Nehru | DMK | J. Logambal | INC | 59,504 |
| Maduranthakam | S. K. Venkatesan | DMK | S. D. Ugamchand | AIADMK | 10,593 |
| Madurai Central | A. Deivanayagam | TMC(M) | V. S. Chandraleka | JP | 17,941 |
| Madurai East | V. Velusamy | DMK | T. R. Janarthanan | AIADMK | 19,297 |
| Madurai West | P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan | DMK | R. Muthusamy | INC | 44,258 |
| Manamadurai (SC) | K. Thangamani | CPI | M. Gunasekaran | AIADMK | 17,770 |
| Mangalore (SC) | S. Puratchimani | TMC(M) | V. M. S. Saravanakumar | INC | 19,288 |
| Mannargudi | V. Sivapunniam | CPI | K. Kaliyaperumal | AIADMK | 39,834 |
| Marungapuri | B. M. Senguttuvan | DMK | K. Solairaj | AIADMK | 6,394 |
| Mayiladuturai | M. M. S. Abul Hassan | TMC(M) | Rama Chidambaram | INC | 34,604 |
| Melmalayanur | A. Gnanasekar | DMK | Dharmarasan | INC | 28,414 |
| Melur | K. V. V. Rajamanickam | TMC(M) | C. R. Sundararajan | INC | 44,741 |
| Mettupalayam | B. Arunkumar | DMK | K. Doraiswamy | AIADMK | 30,752 |
| Mettur | P. Gopal | DMK | R. Balakrishnan | PMK | 20,006 |
| Modakurichi | Subbulakshmi Jegadeesan | DMK | R. N. Kittusamy | AIADMK | 39,540 |
| Morappur | V. Mullaivendhan | DMK | K. Singaram | AIADMK | 28,274 |
| Mudukulathur | S. Balakrishnan | TMC(M) | V. Bose | Independent | 22,528 |
| Mugaiyur | A. G. Sampath | DMK | T. M. Aranganathan | AIADMK | 41,596 |
| Musiri | M. N. Jothi Kannan | DMK | C. Mallika Chinnasamy | AIADMK | 27,768 |
| Mylapore | N. P. Ramajayam | DMK | T. K. Sampath | AIADMK | 51,804 |
| Nagapattinam | G. Nizamudeen | DMK | R. Jeevananthan | AIADMK | 19,728 |
| Nagercoil | M. Moses | TMC(M) | S. Velpandian | BJP | 28,478 |
| Namakkal (SC) | K. Veisamy | DMK | S. Anbalagan | AIADMK | 38,065 |
| Nanguneri | S. V. Krishnan | CPI | A. S. A. Karunakaran | AIADMK | 3,149 |
| Nannilam (SC) | Padma | TMC(M) | K. Gopal | AIADMK | 35,973 |
| Natham | M. Andi Ambalam | TMC(M) | S. Asai Alangaram | INC | 35,636 |
| Natrampalli | R. Mahendran | DMK | T. Anbazhagan | Independent | 3,221 |
| Nellikuppam | A. Mani | DMK | M. C. Dhamodharan | AIADMK | 25,383 |
| Nilakkottai (SC) | A. S. Ponnammal | TMC(M) | A. Rasu | INC | 32,003 |
| Oddanchatram | R. Sakkarapani | DMK | K. Sellamuthu | AIADMK | 36,823 |
| Omalur | R. R. Sekaran | TMC(M) | C. Krishnan | AIADMK | 7,930 |
| Orathanad | P. Rajamanickam | DMK | V. Suriyamoorthy | AIADMK | 30,349 |
| Ottapidaram (SC) | K. Krishnasamy | JP | S. Paulraj | AIADMK | 1,148 |
| Padmanabhapuram | C. Velayudhan | BJP | Bala Janathipathy | DMK | 4,540 |
| Palacode | G. L. Venkatachalam | DMK | C. Gopal | AIADMK | 22,073 |
| Palani (SC) | T. Poovendhan | DMK | P. Karuppachamy | AIADMK | 36,660 |
| Palayamkottai | Mohamed Kodar Maideen | DMK | P. Dharmalingam | AIADMK | 44,364 |
| Palladam | S. S. Ponmudi | DMK | K. S. Duraimurugan | AIADMK | 32,540 |
| Pallipet | E. S. S. Raman | TMC(M) | B. Thangavel | INC | 58,492 |
| Panamarathupatti | S. R. Sivalingam | DMK | P. Vijayalakshmi Palanisamy | AIADMK | 13,171 |
| Panruti | V. Ramaswamy | DMK | R. Rajendran | AIADMK | 39,130 |
| Papanasam | N. Karupanna Odayar | TMC(M) | R. Thirunavukkarasu | Independent | 38,342 |
| Paramakudi (SC) | U. Thisaiveeran | DMK | K. Munisamy | Independent | 18,901 |
| Park Town | T. Rajendar | DMK | S. V. Shankar | INC | 29,479 |
| Pattukkottai | P. Balasubramanian | DMK | Seeni Baskaran | AIADMK | 33,621 |
| Pennagaram | G. K. Mani | PMK | M. Arumugam | CPI | 406 |
| Perambalur (SC) | M. Devarajan | DMK | S. Murugesan | AIADMK | 23,401 |
| Perambur (SC) | Chengai Sivam | DMK | V. Neelakandan | AIADMK | 58,351 |
| Peravurani | S. V. Thirugnana Sambandam | TMC(M) | K. Sakthivel | INC | 39,640 |
| Periyakulam | L. Mookiah | DMK | K. M. Kader Mohideen | AIADMK | 21,907 |
| Pernamallur | N. Pandurangan | DMK | C. Srinivasan | AIADMK | 27,793 |
| Pernambut (SC) | V. Govindan | DMK | I. Thamizharasan | AIADMK | 31,174 |
| Perundurai | N. Periyasamy | CPI | P. Periyasamy | AIADMK | 17,551 |
| Perur | A. Natarasan | DMK | R. Thirumalaisamy | AIADMK | 57,573 |
| Pollachi | S. Raju | DMK | V. Jayaraman | AIADMK | 21,814 |
| Polur | A. Rajendran | DMK | Agri. S. Krishnamoorthy | AIADMK | 24,153 |
| Pongalur | P. Mohan Kandaswamy | TMC(M) | Thalapathy Murugesan | INC | 21,941 |
| Ponneri (SC) | K. Sundaram | DMK | G. Gunasekaran | AIADMK | 45,391 |
| Poombuhar | G. Mohandasan | DMK | N. Vijayabalan | AIADMK | 18,413 |
| Poonamallee | D. Sudarsanam | TMC(M) | P. Krishnamoorthy | INC | 50,511 |
| Pudukottai | A. Periannan | DMK | S. C. Swaminathan | INC | 42,783 |
| Purasawalkam | B. Ranganathan | TMC(M) | Kathipara J. Gnanam | INC | 72,614 |
| Radhakrishnan Nagar | S. P. Sarkunam | DMK | R. M. D. Raveendran | AIADMK | 43,081 |
| Radhapuram | M. Appavu | TMC(M) | S. K. Chandrasekaran | INC | 28,946 |
| Rajapalayam (SC) | V. P. Rajan | DMK | P. Prabakar | AIADMK | 18,939 |
| Ramanathapuram | A. Rahman Khan | DMK | S. K. G. Sekar | AIADMK | 35,891 |
| Ranipet | R. Gandhi | DMK | M. Masilamani | AIADMK | 34,127 |
| Rasipuram | P. R. Sundaram | AIADMK | R. R. Damayandhi | DMK | 454 |
| Rishivandiyam | S. Sivaraj | TMC(M) | P. Annadurai | AIADMK | 40,064 |
| Royapuram | R. Mathivanan | DMK | D. Jayakumar | AIADMK | 17,408 |
| Saidapet | K. Saidai Kittu | DMK | Saidai S. Duraisamy | AIADMK | 29,853 |
| Salem – I | K. R. G. Dhanapalan | DMK | A. T. Natarajan | INC | 30,267 |
| Salem – II | A. L. Thangavel | DMK | S. Semmalai | AIADMK | 27,491 |
| Samayanallur (SC) | S. Selvaraj | DMK | R. Raja Selvaraj | AIADMK | 55,648 |
| Sankarapuram | T. Udhayasuriyan | DMK | A. Saruvar Kasim | AIADMK | 22,158 |
| Sankarankoil (SC) | C. Karuppasamy | AIADMK | S. Raja | DMK | 600 |
| Sankari (SC) | V. Muthu | DMK | K. K. Ramasamy | AIADMK | 21,336 |
| Sathankulam | S. S. Mani Nadar | TMC(M) | B. Kasinathan | INC | 25,236 |
| Sathyamangalam | S. K. Rajendran | DMK | T. R. Attiannan | AIADMK | 8,784 |
| Sattur | K. M. Vijayakumar | DMK | K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran | AIADMK | 9,364 |
| Sedapatti | G. Thalapathi | DMK | R. Muthiah | AIADMK | 10,201 |
| Sendamangalam (ST) | C. Chandrasekaran | DMK | K. Kalavathi | AIADMK | 19,925 |
| Sholavandan | L. Santhanam | DMK | A. M. Paramasivan | AIADMK | 18,808 |
| Sholinghur | A. M. Munirathinam | TMC(M) | S. Shanmugham | PMK | 33,930 |
| Singanallur | N. Palaniswamy | DMK | R. Duraisamy | AIADMK | 58,412 |
| Sirkazhi (SC) | M. Panneerselvam | DMK | V. Bharathi | AIADMK | 29,694 |
| Sivaganga | Tha. Kiruttinan Pasumpon | DMK | K. R. Muruganandam | AIADMK | 33,001 |
| Sivakasi | R. Chokkar | TMC(M) | N. Alagarsamy | AIADMK | 18,732 |
| Sriperumbudur (SC) | E. Kothandam | DMK | K. N. Chinnandi | INC | 36,436 |
| Srirangam | T. P. Mayavan | DMK | M. Paranjothi | AIADMK | 29,859 |
| Srivaikuntam | S. David Selwyn | DMK | S. Danielraj | INC | 13,209 |
| Srivilliputhur | R. Tamaraikani | AIADMK | T. Ramasamy | CPI | 8,667 |
| Talavasal (SC) | K. Rani | TMC(M) | K. Kaliyaperumal | INC | 27,382 |
| Tambaram | M. A. Vaidyalingam | DMK | K. B. Madhavan | INC | 11,395 |
| Taramangalam | P. Govindan | PMK | P. Elavarasan | DMK | 24,707 |
| Tenkasi | K. Ravi Arunan | TMC(M) | Aladi Sankaraiya | INC | 30,760 |
| Thalli | S. Raja Reddy | CPI | Venkatarama Reddi | INC | 7,489 |
| Thandarambattu | K. Manivarma | TMC(M) | A. P. Kuppusamy | AIADMK | 39,814 |
| Thanjavur | S. N. M. Ubayadullah | DMK | S. D. Somasundaram | AIADMK | 45,082 |
| T. Nagar | A. Chellakumar | TMC(M) | S. Vijayan | AIADMK | 48,998 |
| Theni | N. R. Alagaraja | TMC(M) | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan | AIADMK | 49,144 |
| Thirumangalam | M. Muthuramalingam | DMK | S. Andi Thevar | AIADMK | 28,925 |
| Thirumayam | V. Chinniah | TMC(M) | S. Ragupathy | AIADMK | 11,888 |
| Thirunavalur | A. J. Manikannan | DMK | K. G. P. Gnanamoorthy | AIADMK | 12,436 |
| Thirupparankundram | C. Ramachandran | DMK | S. V. Shanmugam | AIADMK | 61,409 |
| Thiruthuraipundi (SC) | G. Palanisami | CPI | K. Gopalsami | INC | 53,688 |
| Thiruvadanai | K. R. Ramasamy | TMC(M) | D. Sakthivel | INC | 51,400 |
| Thiruvaiyaru | D. Chandrasekaran | DMK | M. Subramanian | AIADMK | 27,011 |
| Thiruvattar | V. Alban | DMK | J. Hemachandran | CPI(M) | 12,354 |
| Thiruvarur (SC) | A. Asohan | DMK | P. Arumuga Pandian | AIADMK | 44,367 |
| Thiruvidaimarudhur | S. Ramalingam | DMK | T. R. Loganathan | INC | 41,941 |
| Thiruvonam | M. Ramachandran | DMK | K. Thangamuthu | AIADMK | 31,550 |
| Thondamuthur | C. R. Ramachandran | DMK | T. Malaravan | AIADMK | 62,137 |
| Thottiam | K. Kannaiyan | DMK | N. Nedumaran | AIADMK | 40,982 |
| Thousand Lights | M. K. Stalin | DMK | Zeenath Sheriffdeen | AIADMK | 44,877 |
| Tindivanam | R. Sedunathan | DMK | M. Karunanidhi | PMK | 25,380 |
| Tiruchendur | S. Jennifer Chandran | DMK | T. Dhamodharan | AIADMK | 31,031 |
| Tiruchengode | T. P. Arumugam | DMK | S. Chinnusamy | AIADMK | 42,620 |
| Tiruchy – I | B. Baranikumar | DMK | Pa. Krishnan | AIADMK | 27,510 |
| Tiruchy – II | Anbil Poyyamozhi | DMK | P. Selvaraj | AIADMK | 44,829 |
| Tirunelveli | A. L. Subramanian | DMK | V. Karuppasamy Pandian | AIADMK | 23,324 |
| Tiruppattur (41) | G. Shanmugam | DMK | P. G. Mani | AIADMK | 31,658 |
| Tiruppattur (194) | R. Sivaraman | DMK | S. Kannappan | AIADMK | 19,277 |
| Tirupporur (SC) | G. Chockalingam | DMK | N. K. Loganathan | AIADMK | 31,896 |
| Tiruppur | K. Subbarayan | CPI | C. Sivasamy | AIADMK | 41,055 |
| Tiruttani | E. A. P. Sivaji | DMK | G. Hari | AIADMK | 29,542 |
| Tiruvallur | C. S. Mani | DMK | G. Kanagaraj | AIADMK | 33,254 |
| Tiruvannamalai | K. Pitchandi | DMK | A. Arunachalam | INC | 52,978 |
| Thiruvarambur | K. Durai | DMK | T. Rathinavel | AIADMK | 46,753 |
| Tiruvottiyur | T. C. Vijayan | DMK | B. Balraj | AIADMK | 75,022 |
| Triplicane | K. Nanjil Manoharan | DMK | A. Wahab | AIADMK | 35,011 |
| Tuticorin | N. Periasamy | DMK | J. L. B. Bono Venture Roche | Independent | 21,371 |
| Udagamandalam | T. Gundan | DMK | H. M. Raju | INC | 47,180 |
| Udumalpet | D. Selvaraj | DMK | C. Shanmugavel | AIADMK | 24,320 |
| Ulundurpet (SC) | A. Mani | DMK | M. Anandan | AIADMK | 20,975 |
| Uppiliapuram (ST) | T. Karuppusami | DMK | R. Saroja | AIADMK | 34,568 |
| Usilampatti | P. N. Vallarasu | AIFB | P. Veluchamy | AIADMK | 55,903 |
| Uthiramerur | K. Sundar | DMK | N. K. Gnanasekaran | AIADMK | 33,092 |
| Valangiman (SC) | Gomathi Srinivasan | TMC(M) | V. Vivekanandan | AIADMK | 20,511 |
| Valparai (SC) | V. P. Singaravelu | DMK | Kurichi Manimaran | AIADMK | 25,272 |
| Vandavasi (SC) | Bala Anandan | DMK | V. Gunaseelan | AIADMK | 39,746 |
| Vaniyambadi | M. Abdul Lathief | DMK | K. Kuppusamy | INC | 47,253 |
| Vanur (SC) | A. Marimuthu | DMK | S. P. Erasendiran | AIADMK | 23,942 |
| Varahur (SC) | B. Duraisamy | DMK | A. Palanimuthu | AIADMK | 21,151 |
| Vasudevanallur (SC) | R. Eswaran | TMC(M) | P. Suresh Babu | INC | 616 |
| Vedaranyam | S. K. Vedarathinam | DMK | P. C. V. Balasubramaniam | INC | 22,792 |
| Vedasandur | S. V. Krishnan | DMK | S. Gandhirajan | AIADMK | 20,769 |
| Veerapandi | S. Arumugam | DMK | K. Arjunan | AIADMK | 21,151 |
| Vellakoil | M. P. Saminathan | DMK | Durai Ramaswamy | AIADMK | 6,914 |
| Vellore | C. Gnanasekaran | TMC(M) | S. B. Bhaskaran | INC | 60,888 |
| Vilathikulam | K. Ravisankar | DMK | V. Gopalsamy | MDMK | 634 |
| Vilavancode | D. Mony | CPI(M) | V. Thankaraj | DMK | 21,282 |
| Villivakkam | J. M. Haroon Rasheed | TMC(M) | M. G. Mohan | INC | 147,747 |
| Villupuram | K. Ponmudy | DMK | S. S. Panneerselvam | AIADMK | 41,586 |
| Virudhunagar | A. R. R. Seenivasan | DMK | G. Karikolraj | INC | 23,487 |
| Vridachalam | Tamizharasan | DMK | R. Govindasamy | PMK | 6,885 |
| Yercaud (ST) | V. Perumal | DMK | R. Gunasekaran | AIADMK | 9,394 |
| * | Elected as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu |

## Impact

AIADMK suffered a rout in the elections. Most of sitting ministers of the AIADMK government, including the chief minister Jayalalithaa lost their seats. Jayalalithaa lost to DMK's E. G. Sugavanam by a margin of 8,366 votes in the Bargur constituency. A year after the election, the AIADMK split, when a faction led by the Arantaki MLA Su. Thirunavukkarasar broke away from the party. The MDMK which was contesting its first statewide elections since its formation in 1994 drew a blank. MDMK leader Vaiko was defeated in both the Vilathikulam Assembly constituency and the Sivakasi parliamentary constituency. This election also saw the PMK electing four members to the assembly. The massive victory of the DMK-TMC-CPI combine in the assembly elections spilled over to the parliamentary elections. The coalition was able to win all 39 parliamentary seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone parliamentary seat in the nearby Pondicherry. This tally of 40 seats enabled the DMK-TMC combine to be part of the United Front government during 1996–98.

## Cabinet

| S.no | Name | Designation | Party |
| Chief Minister |||||
| 1. | M. Karunanidhi | Chief Minister | DMK |
| Cabinet Ministers |||||
| 2. | K. Anbazhagan | Minister for Education | DMK |
| 3. | Arcot N. Veerasamy | Minister for Health and Electricity | DMK |
| 4. | Nanjil K. MANOHARAN | Minister for Revenue | DMK |
| 5. | Ko. Si. Mani | Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration | DMK |
| 6. | Veerapandi S. Arurmugam | Minister for Agriculture | DMK |
| 7. | Duraimurugan | Minister for Public Works | DMK |
| 8. | K. Ponmudy | Minister for Transport | DMK |
| 9. | Dr M.Tamizhkudimagan | Minister for Tamil Language & Culture | DMK |
| 10. | K.N. Nehru | Minister for Food, PDS and Co-operation | DMK |
| 11. | K. Sundaram | Minister for Milk | DMK |
| 12. | A. Rahman Khan | Minister for Labour | DMK |
| 13. | Aladi Aruna | Minister for Law | DMK |
| 14. | V. Thangapandian | Minister for Co-operation | DMK |
| 15. | N.K.K.Periyasamy | Minister for Handlooms | DMK |
| 16 | M.R.K. Panneerselvam | Minister for Backward Classes | DMK |
| 17. | Pongalur N. Palanisamy | Minister for Animal Husbandry | DMK |
| 18. | K. Pitchandi | Minister for Housing | DMK |
| 19. | I. Periasamy | Minister for Rural Industries and Registration | DMK |
| 20. | V.Mullaivendan | Minister for Information | DMK |
| 21. | Pulavar Senguttuvan | Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments | DMK |
| 22. | S.P. Sarkuna Pandian | Minister for Social Welfare | DMK |
| 23. | Samayanallur S. Selvarasu | Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare | DMK |
| 24. | N. Suresh Rajan | Minister for Tourism | DMK |
| 25. | Andhiyur P. Selvarasu | Minister for Khadi & Printing | DMK |
| 26. | S. Jennifer Chandran | Minister for Fisheries | DMK |
| After the death of the minister Thiru V.Thangapandian there is a Inclusion of Thiru Pasumpon Tha Kirittinan as Minister for Highways and seniority changes done he is placed in No 9 in ministers list and the cabinet re-designated several changes shuffling done.