AIADMK eyes clean sweep in Thoothukudi district

With the people of Tamil Nadu preparing to cast their votes in the 17th Assembly election that is expected to be held in a couple of months, AIADMK is regaining momentum and making a strong push to win all six constituencies in Thoothukudi district.

The six Assembly constituencies in the district are Thoothukudi, Srivaikuntam, Tiruchendur, Ottapidaram, Vilathikulam and Kovilpatti. In the 2016 Assembly election, AIADMK secured four of the six seats in the district. However, due to anti-incumbency, police firing during the anti-Sterlite protest and other factors, the party’s tally came down to one seat in the 2021 polls.

Determined to revive the winning streak, the party has begun preparations with the aim of capturing all the six Assembly seats. The party cadres have begun a campaign called Vidiyal Aatchikku Ungal Veettu Billaey Saatchi (your household bills are the proof of the dawn of a new government), which compares the annual expenses of each household before and after the DMK rule.

Booth committee members are making door-to-door visits in each constituency of the district to explain to the people how inflation has affected them over the past five years. “During our tenure, we implemented schemes like Thalikku Thangam, which provided gold for mangalsutra and free laptops for students. However, the present DMK government has completely stopped giving gold for mangalsutra and has only resumed laptop distribution this year,” Kovilpatti MLA Kadambur Raju told The Hindu.

In the 2016 and 2021 Assembly election, Mr. Raju secured 64,514 and 68,556 votes respectively. In the 2016 election, he won by a narrow margin of 428 votes, defeating his opponent A. Subramanian of DMK. In 2021. he won by a margin of 12,403 votes, defeating T.T.V. Dhinakaran of AMMK.

AIADMK members believe that the winning streak will continue in the 2026 Assembly elections. “Apart from community-based votes and other major factors, Mr. Raju remains accessible to people of his constituency, addressing everything from minor to major issues. This approach will help him secure another victory,” they say.

A. Santhanam, deputy secretary, Thoothukudi South District AIADMK, claims that people of Thoothukudi are dissatisfied with the present government. “The party cadres have begun grassroot mobilisation, especially in market areas, by distributing pamphlets detailing our election promises. They also explain the rise in cost of living under the DMK government.”

In the 2016 Assembly election, P. Geetha Jeevan secured 88,045 votes against her nearest rival S.T. Chellapandian of AIADMK, who polled 67,137 votes. In 2021, Ms. Jeevan registered a massive victory with a margin of 50,310 votes over S.D.R. Vijayaseelan of AIADMK.

“If S.T. Chellapandian contests again in the upcoming election, AIADMK will easily win with a sizable margin. The arrival of TVK [Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam] is expected to split the minority votes, particularly Thoothukudi constituency, which has around 50,000 fishermen votes,” Mr. Santhanam said.

According to AIADMK sources, if the party’s ex-MLA, R. Sundararaj contests in Ottapidaram, he stands a strong chance of winning, as the electorate is reportedly dissatisfied with the sitting DMK MLA, Shunmugaiah. “If the former AIADMK minister S.P. Shanmuganathan, intensifies his field work in Srivaikuntam constituency, he could secure victory. With TTV. Dhinakaran’s entry into the NDA alliance, and consolidation of Mukkulothor votes, Shanmuganathan’s prospects are said to be favourable.”

Similarly, people of both Tiruchendur and Vilathikulam constituencies are expecting a change, increasing the winning chances of AIADMK, the sources said.

If DMK could win five constituencies of Thoothukudi district in the previous election, it is also possible for AIADMK to win all the six constituencies of the district, as the people are looking for change. Also, DMK has never won two consecutive Assembly elections, Mr. Raju said.

Published – February 15, 2026 08:26 pm IST