Tamil Nadu Assembly poll: Congress names 27 candidates; Melur nominee yet to be announced

The Congress on Friday (April 3, 2026) finally announced its list of candidates for 27 out of 28 Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies allotted to it by the DMK for the upcoming polls.

The list was released after lengthy discussions in New Delhi. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai and Congress Legislature party leader S. Rajeshkumar retained their seats in Sriperumbudhur and Killiyoor respectively. New entrant G.K.M. Tamil Kumaran, son of former Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president G.K. Mani, has been given the Pennagaram seat despite severe opposition from some senior leaders.

The party is yet to announce its candidate for Melur, as influential Congress leaders are apparently hoping to field one of their supporters from the constituency.

Sitting MLA Durai Chandrasekar will contest again from his Ponneri (SC) constituency. Congress sitting MLAs for Velachery and Sholinghar, JMH Aassan Maulana and A.M. Munirathinam, will also contest from their respective seats.

Former Krishnagiri MP A. Chella Kumar has been fielded in the Krishnagiri constituency and Gopinath Palaniyappan will contest from the Erode East constituency, previously held by late E.V.K.S. Elangovan and late Thirumagan E.V. Raa. Thirumagan.

B. Ramachandran is contesting from Udhagamandalam and Dr. Tharagai Cuthbert has been fielded in Colachel. T.T. Praveen will face off with former Congress MLA S. Vijayadarini, who is now with the BJP, in Vilavancode.

V. Shrinithi Naidu and K.P. Surya Prakash have been fielded in the Singanallur and Kavundampalayam constituencies respectively, while A.S. Chandrasekaran will contest from the Cuddalore constituency.

S. Mangudi retains the Karaikudi constituency, where a four-cornered contest is expected, with Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AMMK) Therboki Pandian, and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) Prabhu also in the fray.

T. Saravana Kumar will contest from Usilampatti and Ganesan Ashokan has been given the Sivakasi ticket. Rama Karumanickam has retained the Tiruvadanai seat, and S. Oorvashi Amirtharaj has retained the Srivaikuntam segment. Ruby Manoharan will once again contest from Nanguneri.

While Sangai Ganeshan has been fielded from the Sankarankovil (SC) constituency, M. Vichu Lenin Prasath has been fielded from Thuraiyur (SC), S.K. Arthanari from Attur (SC), and R. Kuppu Samy from Uthangarai (SC). T. Rama Chandhiran has been fielded from Aranthangi and V.P. Durai, from Ambasamudram. Jamal Yunus Mohammed has been given the ticket to Mayiladuthurai.