# Rajapalayam Assembly constituency

9°27′0″N 77°33′0″E﻿ / ﻿9.45000°N 77.55000°E﻿ / 9.45000; 77.55000
Rajapalayam is an assembly constituency located in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu. It falls under Tenkasi Lok Sabha constituency. It is one of the 234 State Legislative Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu, in India.

## Members of Legislative Assembly
### Madras State

| Year | Winner | Party | Party |
| 1962 | R. Krishnasamy Naidu | | Indian National Congress |
| 1967 | A. A. S. Raja | | Independent |

### Tamil Nadu

| Year | Winner | Party |
| 1971 | K. Suppu | Communist Party of India |
| 1977 | K. Dhanuskodi | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1980 | P. Mokkian | Independent |
| 1984 | K. Raman | Indian National Congress |
| 1989 | V. P. Rajan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1991 | T. Sathiah | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1996 | V. P. Rajan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2001 | M. Rajasekar | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2006 | M. Chandra | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2011 | K. Gopalsamy | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2016 | S. Thangappandian | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2021 | S. Thangappandian | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
Rajapalayam Assembly constituency was absorbed into Tenkasi Lok Sabha constituency in 2008, for the 2009 election onwards.

## Election results

Vote share of winning candidates :
| 2021 | 2021 | 41.50% | 41.50% |
| 2016 | 2016 | 43.82% | 43.82% |
| 2011 | 2011 | 53.80% | 53.80% |
| 2006 | 2006 | 39.37% | 39.37% |
| 2001 | 2001 | 47.63% | 47.63% |
| 1996 | 1996 | 38.62% | 38.62% |
| 1991 | 1991 | 63.45% | 63.45% |
| 1989 | 1989 | 40.75% | 40.75% |
| 1984 | 1984 | 54.49% | 54.49% |
| 1980 | 1980 | 44.07% | 44.07% |
| 1977 | 1977 | 37.55% | 37.55% |
| 1971 | 1971 | 50.45% | 50.45% |
| 1967 | 1967 | 53.29% | 53.29% |
| 1962 | 1962 | 51.73% | 51.73% |

### 2021

2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | S. Thangappandian | 74,158 | 41.94% | −1.88 |
| | AIADMK | K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji | 70,260 | 39.73% | −1.27 |
| | NTK | V. Jeyaraj | 15,601 | 8.82% | +7.41 |
| | AMMK | K. Kalimuthu | 7,664 | 4.33% | New |
| | MNM | S. Vivekananthan | 4,057 | 2.29% | New |
| | PT | V. K. Ayyar | 3,384 | 1.91% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 1,875 | 1.06% | −0.28 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 3,898 | 2.20% | −0.61% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 176,833 | 73.85% | −2.22% |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 288 | 0.16% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 239,461 | | |
| | DMK hold | DMK hold | Swing | -1.88% | |

### 2016

2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | S. Thangappandian | 74,787 | 43.82% | +4.4 |
| | AIADMK | A. A. S. Shyam | 69,985 | 41.00% | −12.8 |
| | CPI(M) | A. Gurusamy | 12,505 | 7.33% | New |
| | BJP | A. N. Ramachandra Raja | 3,435 | 2.01% | −1.63 |
| | NTK | V. Jeyaraj | 2,414 | 1.41% | New |
| | NOTA | NOTA | 2,290 | 1.34% | New |
| | PMK | P. Lakshmanan | 1,073 | 0.63% | New |
| | Independent | I. Jeyaprakash | 919 | 0.54% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 4,802 | 2.81% | −11.58% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 170,688 | 76.06% | −4.18% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 224,407 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -9.99% | |

### 2011

2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | K. Gopalsamy | 80,125 | 53.80% | +14.43 |
| | DMK | S. Thangappandian | 58,693 | 39.41% | +0.37 |
| | BJP | N. S. Ramakrishnan | 5,428 | 3.64% | +2.54 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 21,432 | 14.39% | 14.06% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 148,925 | 80.24% | 6.47% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 185,596 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 14.43% | |

### 2006

2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | M. Chandra | 58,320 | 39.37% | −8.25 |
| | DMK | V. P. Rajan | 57,827 | 39.04% | −1.18 |
| | BSP | P. Kalimuthu | 13,218 | 8.92% | New |
| | DMDK | N. Ayyanar | 10,251 | 6.92% | New |
| | AIFB | R. Vijayakumari | 4,082 | 2.76% | New |
| | BJP | M. Chellapandi | 1,640 | 1.11% | New |
| | Independent | P. Muniasamy | 1,210 | 0.82% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 493 | 0.33% | −7.07% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 148,122 | 73.77% | 9.88% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 200,783 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | -8.25% | |

### 2001

2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | M. Rajasekar | 61,740 | 47.63% | +23.64 |
| | DMK | V. P. Rajan | 52,145 | 40.23% | +1.61 |
| | MDMK | P. Ramanathan | 12,613 | 9.73% | −4.07 |
| | Independent | M. Vellaichamy | 1,280 | 0.99% | New |
| | Independent | T. Ramachandran | 736 | 0.57% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 9,595 | 7.40% | −7.23% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 129,633 | 63.89% | −6.63% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 203,123 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 9.01% | |

### 1996

1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | V. P. Rajan | 49,984 | 38.62% | New |
| | AIADMK | P. Prabakar | 31,045 | 23.99% | −39.46 |
| | JP | K. Dhanuskodi | 26,706 | 20.63% | New |
| | MDMK | T. Sadhan Tirumalaikumar | 17,862 | 13.80% | New |
| | BJP | M. Thangaraj | 1,805 | 1.39% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 18,939 | 14.63% | −14.47% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 129,427 | 70.52% | 7.80% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 192,670 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -24.83% | |

### 1991

1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | T. Sathiah | 68,657 | 63.45% | +46.58 |
| | Thayaga Marumalarchi Kazhagam | K. Dhanuskodi | 37,169 | 34.35% | New |
| | Independent | M. Poomari | 687 | 0.63% | New |
| | Independent | M. Sonai | 640 | 0.59% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 31,488 | 29.10% | 25.77% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 108,212 | 62.72% | −13.88% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 177,434 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 22.69% | |

### 1989

1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | V. P. Rajan | 49,137 | 40.75% | New |
| | INC | Arunachalam M | 45,122 | 37.42% | −17.07 |
| | AIADMK | K. Dhanuskodi | 20,339 | 16.87% | New |
| | Independent | M. Shanmugaveli | 4,873 | 4.04% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 4,015 | 3.33% | −6.38% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 120,575 | 76.59% | 2.96% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 159,823 | | |
| | DMK gain from INC | DMK gain from INC | Swing | -13.74% | |

### 1984

1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | K. Raman | 54,670 | 54.49% | +20.29 |
| | CPI | I. Paulraj | 44,924 | 44.78% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 9,746 | 9.71% | −0.15% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 100,331 | 73.63% | 7.10% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 141,300 | | |
| | INC gain from Independent | INC gain from Independent | Swing | 10.42% | |

### 1980

1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Mokkian | 38,339 | 44.07% | New |
| | INC | K. Pottu Pottan | 29,758 | 34.20% | +1.81 |
| | Independent | A. Chinnaswamy | 17,119 | 19.68% | New |
| | Independent | S. S. Maran | 1,298 | 1.49% | New |
| | Independent | K. Paraman | 489 | 0.56% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 8,581 | 9.86% | 4.71% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 87,003 | 66.53% | 6.71% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 131,952 | | |
| | Independent gain from AIADMK | Independent gain from AIADMK | Swing | 6.52% | |

### 1977

1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | K. Dhanuskodi | 28,028 | 37.55% | New |
| | INC | K. Pottupoattan | 24,181 | 32.39% | −17.15 |
| | JP | J. S. Baliah | 11,702 | 15.68% | New |
| | DMK | K. Andi Alias Gurusamy | 10,220 | 13.69% | New |
| | Independent | M. Sundaram | 382 | 0.51% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 3,847 | 5.15% | 4.24% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 74,649 | 59.82% | −17.21% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 126,020 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from CPI | AIADMK gain from CPI | Swing | -12.91% | |

### 1971

1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI | K. Suppu | 36,827 | 50.45% | New |
| | INC | K. R. Srirenga Raja | 36,163 | 49.55% | +14.41 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 664 | 0.91% | −17.24% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 72,990 | 77.03% | −6.81% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 98,432 | | |
| | CPI gain from Independent | CPI gain from Independent | Swing | -2.83% | |

### 1967

1967 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | A. A. S. Raja | 38,936 | 53.29% | New |
| | INC | P. A. A. Raja | 25,675 | 35.14% | −16.59 |
| | CPI(M) | T. Nadar | 8,224 | 11.26% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 13,261 | 18.15% | −9.80% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 73,066 | 83.83% | 3.99% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 89,597 | | |
| | Independent gain from INC | Independent gain from INC | Swing | 1.56% | |

### 1962

1962 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Rajapalayam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | R. Krishnasamy Naidu | 41,692 | 51.73% | New |
| | SWA | V. Ramakrishna Raja | 19,165 | 23.78% | New |
| | CPI | S. Alagirisamy | 18,063 | 22.41% | New |
| | Independent | A. Chelliah | 1,674 | 2.08% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 22,527 | 27.95% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 80,594 | 79.84% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 103,902 | | |
| | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) |