TRICHY: AIADMK’s Leema Rose Martin, wife of lottery baron Santiago Martin, and the richest candidate of Tamil Nadu assembly election 2026, is maintaining a solid lead in the closely fought three corner election. Even as several incumbent DMK ministers, former AIADMK ministers, and star candidates are losing their safe seats and stronghold, Leema with a declared net assets at Rs 1,049.5 crore as per her poll nomination papers is maintaining a substantial lead in all rounds of vote counting on Monday. Leema Rose declared her total assets at Rs 1,049.5 crore, movable at Rs 139.6 crore and immovable at Rs 909.9 crore. At the end of round 12, Leema secured 37,263 votes. Her closest rival is former AIADMK minister and now TVK candidate Ku Pa Krishnan. He secured 35,600 votes. DMK’s T Parivallal is at third place with 35,223 votes. In Trichy district, out of nine assembly segments, TVK candidates, including party leader actor Vijay contesting in Trichy East, are leading the race in six constituencies. DMK’s incumbent MLAs, including minister KN Nehru and S Kathiravan, lead in Trichy West and Manachanallur respectively. Leema Rose is the only candidate from AIADMK to maintain the lead in nine constituencies. Despite the negative propaganda by DMK that labeled Leema, a resident of Coimbatore as an outsider, and alleging that the candidate amassed her money through lottery sales, she has managed to bag Lalgudi constituency, the native seat of two DMK ministers Nehru and Anbil Mahesh. AIADMK sources attributed the success to the impact of the last mile campaign by the richest candidate, striking an appeal with the rural women voters. Leema’s promises to help self-help group (SHG) women and rural youths by developing sports infrastructure were well received by the Lalgudi voters. DMK’s decision to drop four-time MLA A Soundara Pandian has backfired for the party too.
