# Kovilpatti Assembly constituency

Kovilpatti is one of the 234 state legislative assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu in southern India. It is also one of the six state legislative assembly constituencies included in Thoothukkudi Lok Sabha constituency. It is one of the oldest assembly segments in Tamil Nadu, having existed since independence.

## Members of the Legislative Assembly

| Election | Assembly | Member | Political Party | Tenure |
| 1952 | 1st | Ramaswamy | Indian National Congress | 1952-1957 |
| 1957 | 2nd | V. Suppaya | Independent | 1957-1962 |
| 1962 | 3rd | N. V. Venugopalakrishnasami | Indian National Congress | 1962-1967 |
| 1967 | 4th | S. Alagarsamy | Communist Party of India | 1967-1971 |
| 1971 | 5th | S. Alagarsamy | Communist Party of India | 1971-1977 |
| 1977 | 6th | S. Alagarsamy | Communist Party of India | 1977-1980 |
| 1980 | 7th | S. Alagarsamy | Communist Party of India | 1980-1984 |
| 1984 | 8th | R. Rangasamy | Indian National Congress | 1984-1989 |
| 1989 | 9th | S. Alagarsamy | Communist Party of India | 1989-1991 |
| 1991 | 10th | R. Shyamala | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1991-1996 |
| 1996 | 11th | L. Ayyalusamy | Communist Party of India | 1996-2001 |
| 2001 | 12th | S. Rajendran | Communist Party of India | 2001-2006 |
| 2006 | 13th | L. Radhakrishnan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2006-2011 |
| 2011 | 14th | Kadambur C. Raju | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2011-2016 |
| 2016 | 15th | Kadambur C. Raju | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2016-2021 |
| 2021 | 16th | Kadambur C. Raju | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 2021-Incumbent |

## Election results

Vote share of winning candidates :
| 2021 | 2021 | 37.89% | 37.89% |
| 2016 | 2016 | 38.96% | 38.96% |
| 2011 | 2011 | 55.85% | 55.85% |
| 2006 | 2006 | 46.62% | 46.62% |
| 2001 | 2001 | 40.27% | 40.27% |
| 1996 | 1996 | 35.19% | 35.19% |
| 1991 | 1991 | 61.81% | 61.81% |
| 1989 | 1989 | 35.34% | 35.34% |
| 1984 | 1984 | 55.75% | 55.75% |
| 1980 | 1980 | 51.37% | 51.37% |
| 1977 | 1977 | 32.75% | 32.75% |
| 1971 | 1971 | 62.16% | 62.16% |
| 1967 | 1967 | 55.02% | 55.02% |
| 1962 | 1962 | 36.22% | 36.22% |
| 1957 | 1957 | 31.78% | 31.78% |
| 1952 | 1952 | 64.67% | 64.67% |

### 2021

2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | Kadambur Raju | 68,556 | 38.13% | −0.83 |
| | AMMK | T. T. V. Dhinakaran | 56,153 | 31.23% | New |
| | CPI(M) | K. Srinivasan | 37,380 | 20.79% | New |
| | NTK | M. Gomathi | 9,213 | 5.12% | +3.87 |
| | MNM | K. Kathiravan | 3,667 | 2.04% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 1,124 | 0.63% | −0.79 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 12,403 | 6.90% | 6.64% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,79,804 | 67.62% | 0.92% |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 576 | 0.32% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,65,915 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | -0.83% | |

### 2016

2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | Kadambur Raju | 64,514 | 38.96% | −16.89 |
| | DMK | A. Subramanian | 64,086 | 38.70% | New |
| | MDMK | Vinayaka Ramesh | 28,512 | 17.22% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 2,350 | 1.42% | New |
| | NTK | T. Muthu Mari | 2,070 | 1.25% | New |
| | PMK | G. Ramachandiran | 1,075 | 0.65% | −34.94 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 428 | 0.26% | −20.00% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,65,607 | 66.70% | −5.48% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,48,279 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | -16.89% | |

### 2011

2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | Kadambur Raju | 73,007 | 55.85% | +9.24 |
| | PMK | G. Ramachandran | 46,527 | 35.59% | New |
| | Independent | P. Mariappan | 2,685 | 2.05% | New |
| | BJP | V. Rengarajan | 2,186 | 1.67% | +1.03 |
| | Independent | E. Visuvasam | 1,232 | 0.94% | New |
| | BSP | S. Arumairaj | 1,107 | 0.85% | −1.62 |
| | Independent | V. Kennady | 1,068 | 0.82% | New |
| | Independent | P. Ramasamy | 679 | 0.52% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 26,480 | 20.26% | 9.48% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,30,723 | 72.18% | 7.46% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,81,097 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 9.24% | |

### 2006

2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | L. Radhakrishnan | 53,354 | 46.61% | New |
| | CPI | S. Rajendran | 41,015 | 35.83% | −4.44 |
| | DMDK | T. Srinivasa Raghavan | 11,633 | 10.16% | New |
| | PT | K. Kovilselvan | 2,827 | 2.47% | New |
| | AIFB | S. Chelladurai | 2,560 | 2.24% | New |
| | Independent | V. Viswanathan | 1,201 | 1.05% | New |
| | BJP | G. Somasundaram | 733 | 0.64% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 12,339 | 10.78% | 2.83% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,14,478 | 64.73% | 6.03% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,76,858 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from CPI | AIADMK gain from CPI | Swing | 6.34% | |

### 2001

2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI | S. Rajendran | 45,796 | 40.27% | +5.08 |
| | DMK | K. Rajaram | 36,757 | 32.32% | New |
| | MDMK | K. Vishvamithran | 27,809 | 24.45% | −4.03 |
| | Independent | M. Mariappan | 1,881 | 1.65% | New |
| | Independent | R. Ayyalusamy | 757 | 0.67% | New |
| | TLK | K. G. Muthurajan | 726 | 0.64% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 9,039 | 7.95% | 1.25% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,13,726 | 58.69% | −7.15% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,93,861 | | |
| | CPI hold | CPI hold | Swing | 5.08% | |

### 1996

1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI | L. Ayyalusamy | 39,315 | 35.19% | +3.21 |
| | MDMK | K. S. Radhakrishnan | 31,828 | 28.49% | New |
| | AIADMK | L. Radhakrishnan | 31,168 | 27.90% | −33.92 |
| | JP | V. R. Veeraragavan | 5,321 | 4.76% | New |
| | BJP | V. Rengaraja | 806 | 0.72% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,487 | 6.70% | −23.13% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,11,727 | 65.85% | 5.87% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,75,222 | | |
| | CPI gain from AIADMK | CPI gain from AIADMK | Swing | -26.62% | |

### 1991

1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | R. Shyamala | 58,535 | 61.81% | New |
| | CPI | L. Ayyalusamy | 30,284 | 31.98% | −3.36 |
| | PMK | P. Krishnamoorthy | 4,032 | 4.26% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 28,251 | 29.83% | 26.52% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 94,698 | 59.98% | −10.36% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,61,982 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from CPI | AIADMK gain from CPI | Swing | 26.48% | |

### 1989

1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI | S. Alagarsamy | 35,008 | 35.34% | +0.72 |
| | DMK | S. Radhakrishnan | 31,724 | 32.02% | New |
| | Independent | A. Palpandian | 13,981 | 14.11% | New |
| | Independent | S. Dharmar | 6,462 | 6.52% | New |
| | Independent | M. S. Iyyadurai | 4,759 | 4.80% | New |
| | Independent | V. Anandasamy | 3,263 | 3.29% | New |
| | India Farmers and Tailers Party | R. P. Ramasamy | 2,742 | 2.77% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 3,284 | 3.31% | −17.82% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 99,069 | 70.34% | −1.44% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,43,671 | | |
| | CPI gain from INC | CPI gain from INC | Swing | -20.41% | |

### 1984

1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | R. Rangasamy | 45,623 | 55.75% | +15.64 |
| | CPI | S. Alagarsamy | 28,327 | 34.61% | −16.76 |
| | Independent | P. Seenirasu | 4,655 | 5.69% | New |
| | Independent | V. Paulraj | 977 | 1.19% | New |
| | Independent | R. Paramasivam | 715 | 0.87% | New |
| | Independent | S. Perumalsamy | 633 | 0.77% | New |
| | Independent | T. N. P. Raju | 627 | 0.77% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 17,296 | 21.13% | 9.87% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 81,840 | 71.78% | 3.24% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,20,666 | | |
| | INC gain from CPI | INC gain from CPI | Swing | 4.37% | |

### 1980

1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI | S. Alagarsamy | 39,442 | 51.37% | +18.63 |
| | INC | V. Jeyalakshmi | 30,792 | 40.11% | New |
| | JP | S. Kalidas | 6,281 | 8.18% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 8,650 | 11.27% | 10.68% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 76,777 | 68.54% | 5.48% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,13,218 | | |
| | CPI hold | CPI hold | Swing | 18.63% | |

### 1977

1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI | S. Alagarsamy | 21,985 | 32.75% | −29.42 |
| | AIADMK | P. Seeniraj | 21,588 | 32.15% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 397 | 0.59% | −23.73% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 67,140 | 63.06% | −9.03% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,07,794 | | |
| | CPI hold | CPI hold | Swing | -29.42% | |

### 1971

1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI | S. Alagarsamy | 38,844 | 62.16% | +7.14 |
| | INC | L. Subba Naicker | 23,646 | 37.84% | +0.04 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 15,198 | 24.32% | 7.10% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,490 | 72.09% | −2.89% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 92,524 | | |
| | CPI hold | CPI hold | Swing | 7.14% | |

### 1967

1967 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI | S. Alagarsamy | 33,311 | 55.02% | +29.87 |
| | INC | V. O. C. A. Pillai | 22,885 | 37.80% | +1.58 |
| | Independent | R. K. Thevar | 3,709 | 6.13% | New |
| | Independent | R. Chairman | 641 | 1.06% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 10,426 | 17.22% | 10.52% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,546 | 74.98% | −2.49% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 84,101 | | |
| | CPI gain from INC | CPI gain from INC | Swing | 18.80% | |

### 1962

1962 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | N. V. Venugopalakrishnasami | 22,158 | 36.22% | +6.38 |
| | SWA | R. S. Appasami | 18,059 | 29.52% | New |
| | CPI | S. Alagarsamy | 15,387 | 25.15% | −2.39 |
| | DMK | M. Periasami | 5,030 | 8.22% | New |
| | Independent | K. Venkataram Naidu | 543 | 0.89% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 4,099 | 6.70% | 4.76% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,177 | 77.47% | 31.88% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 81,603 | | |
| | INC gain from Independent | INC gain from Independent | Swing | 4.44% | |

### 1957

1957 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | V. Subbaiah Naicker | 11,425 | 31.78% | New |
| | INC | Selvaraj | 10,726 | 29.84% | −34.83 |
| | CPI | S. Alagarsamy | 9,901 | 27.54% | New |
| | Independent | Ponnusamy | 3,898 | 10.84% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 699 | 1.94% | −41.94% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,950 | 45.60% | −7.15% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 78,841 | | |
| | Independent gain from INC | Independent gain from INC | Swing | -32.89% | |

### 1952

1952 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Kovilpatti :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Ramasamy | 25,282 | 64.67% | New |
| | Independent | Shanmugham | 8,124 | 20.78% | New |
| | Socialist | Subbiah | 4,370 | 11.18% | New |
| | KMPP | Perumal | 1,319 | 3.37% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 17,158 | 43.89% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,095 | 52.75% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,113 | | |
| | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) |