# Kanniyakumari Assembly constituency

Kanniyakumari is a Tamil Nadu assembly constituency located in Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha constituency in Kanniyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. The constituency is located in the southern corner of mainland India, comprising the popular tourist destination Kanniyakumari. In the 2011 election, it had 237,410 total number of voters, consisting of 120,372 males and 117,038 females. Kanniyakumari was one of 17 assembly constituencies to have VVPAT facility with EVMs in the 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. It is one of the 234 State Legislative Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

## Demographics

Gender demographics of Kanniyakumari constituency as of 01.05.2021, taken ahead of the state general elections in 2021.
| Year | Female | Male | Transgender | Total |
| 2021 | 1,44,982 | 1,47,347 | 104 | 2,92,433 |

## Members of the Legislative Assembly

Travancore-Cochin assembly :
| Constituency | Election | Winner | Party |
| Thovalai Agasthesswaram | 1952 | T. S. Ramasamy Pillai | Indian National Congress |
| Thovalai Agasthesswaram | 1952 | A. Samraj | Indian National Congress |
| Thovalai | 1954 | T. S. Ramasamy Pillai | Praja Socialist Party |
| Agastheeswaram | 1954 | P. Thanulinga Nadar | Tamil Nadu Congress |
Madras State assembly :
| Election | Winner | Party |
| 1957 | T. S. Ramaswamy Pillai | Independent |
| 1962 | B. Natarajan | Indian National Congress |
| 1967 | B. M. Pillai | Indian National Congress |
Tamil Nadu assembly :
| Election | Winner | Party |
| 1971 | K. Rajah Pillai | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1977 | C. Krishnan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1980 | S. Muthukrishnan | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1984 | K. Perumal Pillai | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1989 | K. Subramania Pillai | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1991 | M. Ammamuthu | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 1996 | N. Suresh Rajan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2001 | Thalavai Sundaram | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2006 | N. Suresh Rajan | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2011 | K. T. Pachaimal | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2016 | S. Austin | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| 2021 | Thalavai Sundaram | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |

## Election results

Vote share of winning candidates :
| 2021 | 2021 | 48.79% | 48.79% |
| 2016 | 2016 | 42.41% | 42.41% |
| 2011 | 2011 | 48.22% | 48.22% |
| 2006 | 2006 | 50.05% | 50.05% |
| 2001 | 2001 | 51.32% | 51.32% |
| 1996 | 1996 | 43.63% | 43.63% |
| 1991 | 1991 | 60.14% | 60.14% |
| 1989 | 1989 | 34.65% | 34.65% |
| 1984 | 1984 | 54.05% | 54.05% |
| 1980 | 1980 | 47.58% | 47.58% |
| 1977 | 1977 | 33.32% | 33.32% |
| 1971 | 1971 | 51.10% | 51.10% |
| 1967 | 1967 | 56.89% | 56.89% |
| 1962 | 1962 | 80.58% | 80.58% |
| 1957 | 1957 | 44.05% | 44.05% |
| 1954 Thovalai | 1954 Thovalai | 57.09% | 57.09% |
| 1954 Agastheeswaram | 1954 Agastheeswaram | 52.34% | 52.34% |
| 1951 | 1951 | 18.46% | 18.46% |

### 2021

2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | Thalavai Sundaram | 109,828 | 48.79 | 9.20 |
| | DMK | S. Austin | 93,618 | 41.59 | −0.82 |
| | NTK | R. Sasikala | 14,197 | 6.31 | 5.48 |
| | MNM | P. T. Selvakumar | 3,109 | 1.38 | |
| | AMMK | P. Senthil Murugan | 1,599 | 0.71 | |
| | NOTA | Nota | 1,097 | 0.49 | −0.26 |
| | BSP | C. J. Sutharman | 684 | 0.30 | 0.07 |
| | Independent | A. Augustin | 447 | 0.20 | |
| | Independent | Na. Manickavasagam Pillai | 142 | 0.06 | |
| | Independent | N. Makesh | 121 | 0.05 | |
| | Independent | S. Thanu Neelan | 95 | 0.04 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 16,210 | 7.20 | 4.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 225,121 | 110.93 | 35.86 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 452 | 0.20 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 202,943 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 6.38 | |

### 2016

2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | S. Austin | 89,023 | 42.41 | 4.06 |
| | AIADMK | Thalavai Sundaram | 83,111 | 39.59 | −8.63 |
| | BJP | M. Meena Dev | 24,638 | 11.74 | 0.59 |
| | DMDK | D. Aathilinga Perumal | 6,914 | 3.29 | |
| | NTK | V. Balasubramaniam | 1,732 | 0.83 | |
| | NOTA | None Of The Above | 1,570 | 0.75 | |
| | PMK | S. Hilman Bruce Edwin | 712 | 0.34 | |
| | Independent | P. Vetti Velayutha Perumal | 526 | 0.25 | |
| | BSP | P. Sankararamamurthy | 481 | 0.23 | 0.00 |
| | Independent | R. Sreetharan | 331 | 0.16 | |
| | Independent | T. Kumaresan | 285 | 0.14 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 5,912 | 2.82 | −7.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 209,924 | 75.07 | −0.69 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 279,651 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -5.82 | |

### 2011

2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | K. T. Pachaimal | 86,903 | 48.22 | 6.64 |
| | DMK | N. Suresh Rajan | 69,099 | 38.34 | −11.71 |
| | BJP | M. R. Gandhi | 20,094 | 11.15 | 8.43 |
| | ABHM | Vetti Velayutha | 734 | 0.41 | |
| | Independent | Perumal. P Manik Prabhu | 538 | 0.30 | |
| | Independent | K. S. Ramanathan | 532 | 0.30 | |
| | Independent | S. Vasu | 461 | 0.26 | |
| | Independent | K. Rajesh | 459 | 0.25 | |
| | BSP | P. Suresh Ananth | 418 | 0.23 | |
| | Independent | S. Vadivelpillai | 198 | 0.11 | |
| | Independent | Y. Patchaimal | 167 | 0.09 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 17,804 | 9.88 | 1.41 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 237,865 | 75.76 | 4.05 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 180,206 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | -1.83 | |

### 2006

2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | N. Suresh Rajan | 63,181 | 50.05 | 7.53 |
| | AIADMK | Thalavai Sundaram | 52,494 | 41.59 | −9.73 |
| | DMDK | A. Alex Shantha Sekar | 5,093 | 4.03 | |
| | BJP | N. Thanu Krishnan | 3,436 | 2.72 | |
| | Independent | K. Rajan | 769 | 0.61 | |
| | Independent | S. Subramania Pillai | 333 | 0.26 | |
| | AIFB | T. Uthaman | 317 | 0.25 | |
| | Independent | K. Gopi | 310 | 0.25 | |
| | Independent | S. Kumaraswamy | 117 | 0.09 | |
| | ABHM | P. Vetri Velayutha Perumal | 109 | 0.09 | |
| | Independent | S. Kumariswamy Nadar | 66 | 0.05 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 10,687 | 8.47 | −0.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 126,225 | 71.71 | 14.08 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 176,033 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -1.26 | |

### 2001

2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | Thalavai Sundaram | 55,650 | 51.32 | 30.00 |
| | DMK | N. Suresh Rajan | 46,114 | 42.52 | −1.11 |
| | MDMK | E. Lakshmanan | 4,991 | 4.60 | −2.48 |
| | Independent | R. Jayakumar | 723 | 0.67 | |
| | Independent | S. Rajasekaran | 331 | 0.31 | |
| | Independent | L. Ayyasamypandian | 310 | 0.29 | |
| | Independent | U. Nagurmeran Peer Muhamad | 138 | 0.13 | |
| | Independent | Kumariswami | 104 | 0.10 | |
| | Independent | V. Thanulingam | 82 | 0.08 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 9,536 | 8.79 | −13.52 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 108,443 | 57.62 | −4.74 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 188,205 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 7.68 | |

### 1996

1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | N. Suresh Rajan | 42,755 | 43.63 | 21.62 |
| | AIADMK | S. Thanu Pillai | 20,892 | 21.32 | −38.82 |
| | BJP | V. S. Rajan | 13,197 | 13.47 | −1.53 |
| | Independent | K. Baul Sundar | 12,421 | 12.68 | |
| | MDMK | S. Ramiah Pillai | 6,942 | 7.08 | |
| | Independent | S. P. Nadaraja | 380 | 0.39 | |
| | Independent | R. Sivathanu Pillai | 336 | 0.34 | |
| | JP | R. Rajkumar | 248 | 0.25 | |
| | PMK | A. Abraham Royan | 234 | 0.24 | |
| | Independent | A. Chellappan | 144 | 0.15 | |
| | Independent | Kavikone Kannithasan @ Subramoniam | 129 | 0.13 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 21,863 | 22.31 | −15.82 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 97,985 | 62.36 | 3.57 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 165,258 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -16.51 | |

### 1991

1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | M. Ammamuthu Pillai | 54,194 | 60.14 | 36.90 |
| | DMK | C. Krishnan | 19,835 | 22.01 | −12.63 |
| | BJP | M. E. Appan | 13,518 | 15.00 | 13.00 |
| | Independent | Y. David | 2,023 | 2.25 | |
| | Independent | U. Nagoor Meeran Peer Mohamead | 105 | 0.12 | |
| | Independent | E. Andrews | 97 | 0.11 | |
| | THMM | K. Murugan | 70 | 0.08 | |
| | Pondichery Mannila Makkal Munnani | J. Z. Markesasan | 67 | 0.07 | |
| | Independent | Dhanaraj Durai | 57 | 0.06 | |
| | Independent | A. Maria Alex | 46 | 0.05 | |
| | Independent | S. Thanka Raj | 36 | 0.04 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 34,359 | 38.13 | 35.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 90,109 | 58.79 | −10.80 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 158,543 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | 25.50 | |

### 1989

1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | K. Subramania Pillai | 33,376 | 34.65 | −10.28 |
| | INC | V. Aurmugham Pillai | 31,037 | 32.22 | |
| | AIADMK | K. Chockalingam Pillai | 22,391 | 23.24 | −30.81 |
| | AIADMK | K. Perumal Pillai | 5,928 | 6.15 | −47.90 |
| | BJP | S. Monickavasagam Pillai | 1,930 | 2.00 | |
| | Independent | Kodikkal Chellappa | 711 | 0.74 | |
| | Independent | C. Chellavadivoo | 581 | 0.60 | |
| | Independent | A. Vethamanickam | 177 | 0.18 | |
| | Independent | I. Hari Ramakrishnan | 92 | 0.10 | |
| | Independent | V. Thangasamy | 67 | 0.07 | |
| | Independent | D. Thangaselvin | 42 | 0.04 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 2,339 | 2.43 | −6.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 96,332 | 69.59 | −2.46 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 140,558 | | |
| | DMK gain from AIADMK | DMK gain from AIADMK | Swing | -19.40 | |

### 1984

1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | K. Perumal Pillai | 45,353 | 54.05 | 6.47 |
| | DMK | M. Sankaraligom | 37,696 | 44.92 | |
| | Independent | K. Ponswamy | 349 | 0.42 | |
| | Independent | M. Sundaram | 316 | 0.38 | |
| | Independent | S. Viswanathan | 197 | 0.23 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,657 | 9.13 | −0.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 83,911 | 72.05 | 5.24 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 121,584 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 6.47 | |

### 1980

1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | S. Muthukrishnan | 35,613 | 47.58 | 14.26 |
| | INC | A. Mathevan Pillai | 28,515 | 38.10 | 27.33 |
| | JP | P. Anandan | 6,986 | 9.33 | |
| | Independent | P. Aruldhas | 3,737 | 4.99 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,098 | 9.48 | −0.86 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 74,851 | 66.81 | −0.13 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 112,972 | | |
| | AIADMK hold | AIADMK hold | Swing | 14.26 | |

### 1977

1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AIADMK | C. Krishnan | 23,222 | 33.32 | |
| | JP | T. C. Subramania Pillay | 16,010 | 22.97 | |
| | DMK | M. Subramanian | 14,854 | 21.31 | −29.79 |
| | INC | K. Muthuaruppa Pillai | 7,507 | 10.77 | −33.84 |
| | Independent | S. Shanmugam | 6,712 | 9.63 | |
| | Independent | T. Chinnakam Nadar | 930 | 1.33 | |
| | Independent | R. Subramania Pillai | 468 | 0.67 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,212 | 10.35 | 3.86 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 69,703 | 66.94 | −11.53 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 104,698 | | |
| | AIADMK gain from DMK | AIADMK gain from DMK | Swing | -17.79 | |

### 1971

1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | DMK | K. Rajah Pillai | 35,884 | 51.10 | |
| | INC | B. Mahadevan Pillai | 31,326 | 44.61 | −12.28 |
| | Independent | A. Anderson | 2,678 | 3.81 | |
| | Independent | N. Nataraja Pillai | 332 | 0.47 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 4,558 | 6.49 | −8.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 70,220 | 78.47 | −1.11 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 93,383 | | |
| | DMK gain from INC | DMK gain from INC | Swing | -5.79 | |

### 1967

1967 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | B. M. Pillai | 37,998 | 56.89 | −23.69 |
| | SWA | S. M. Pillai | 28,260 | 42.31 | |
| | Independent | P. Poomoney | 537 | 0.80 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 9,738 | 14.58 | −48.89 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 66,795 | 79.58 | 6.55 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 85,614 | | |
| | INC hold | INC hold | Swing | -23.69 | |

### 1962

1962 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | B. Natarajan | 46,263 | 80.58 | 38.76 |
| | PSP | S. Rassiah | 9,825 | 17.11 | |
| | Independent | P. Poomoney | 1,324 | 2.31 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 36,438 | 63.47 | 61.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,412 | 73.03 | −4.97 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 80,199 | | |
| | INC gain from Independent | INC gain from Independent | Swing | 36.53 | |

### 1957

1957 Madras Legislative Assembly election: Kanniyakumari :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T. S. Ramasamy Pillai | 24,557 | 44.05 | |
| | INC | B. Natarajan | 23,316 | 41.82 | |
| | Independent | Vivekanandam | 6,866 | 12.32 | |
| | Independent | Kumaraswamy | 1,013 | 1.82 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 1,241 | 2.23 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,752 | 78.00 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,481 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### 1954 Agastheeswaram

1954 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election: Agastheeswaram :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | TTNC | P. Thanulinga Nadar | 15,587 | 52.34 | |
| | INC | C. Balakrishnan | 8,866 | 29.77 | 29.77 |
| | Independent | S. D. Pandia Nadar | 5,328 | 17.89 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 6,721 | 22.57 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,781 | 66.67 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,670 | | |
| | TTNC win (new seat) | TTNC win (new seat) | TTNC win (new seat) | TTNC win (new seat) | TTNC win (new seat) |

### 1954 Thovala

1954 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election: Thovala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | PSP | T. S. Ramasamy Pillai | 16,702 | 57.09 | |
| | INC | K. Sivarama Pillai | 8,117 | 27.75 | 27.75 |
| | TTNC | B. C. Muthiah | 4,435 | 15.16 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 8,585 | 29.35 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,254 | 71.02 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 41,189 | | |
| | PSP win (new seat) | PSP win (new seat) | PSP win (new seat) | PSP win (new seat) | PSP win (new seat) |

### 1952

1952 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election: Thovala Agasteeswaram :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SP | T. S. Ramasamy Pillai | 17,733 | 18.46 | |
| | SP | A. Samraj | 13,104 | 13.64 | |
| | INC | Balakrishnan | 12,132 | 12.63 | 12.63 |
| | TTNC | Manickom. Y. | 10,491 | 10.92 | |
| | TTP | Gandhiraman Pillai. A. S. | 9,976 | 10.39 | |
| | INC | Ramakrishnan. A. S. | 9,619 | 10.01 | 10.01 |
| | TTNC | Sivarama Pillai. K. | 9,498 | 9.89 | |
| | TTP | Ponniah. J. | 8,524 | 8.87 | |
| | Independent | Thanumalaya Perunal Pillai | 4,971 | 5.18 | |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 4,629 | 4.82 | 4.82 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 96,048 | 124.85 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,930 | | |
| | SP win (new seat) | SP win (new seat) | SP win (new seat) | SP win (new seat) | SP win (new seat) |