Ramanathapuram, the coastal headquarters of the district, has seen representation from the DMK, AIADMK and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) over the years. In the 2021 Assembly elections, DMK’s Katharbatcha Muthuramalingam won with 1,11,075 votes, defeating BJP’s D. Kuppuramu by a margin of 50,312 votes. In the 2016 Assembly elections, AIADMK’s Dr. M. Manikandan won with 89,365 votes, defeating MMK’s Dr. MH Jawahirullah by 33,222 votes. In the 2011 Assembly elections, MMK’s Dr. MH Jawahirullah, contesting as part of the DMK alliance, won with 65,831 votes, defeating INC’s K. Hussan Ali by 15,757 votes. Historically, since the 1977 elections, the AIADMK has dominated the constituency with six victories, while the DMK has won three times. The 234-seat Assembly election in Tamil Nadu will see the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, take on the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and a resurgent BJP-led alliance. The campaign is centered around issues such as welfare schemes, law and order, and the broader debate between Dravidian political identity and national integration narratives. While the DMK government is highlighting its record on industrial growth and social justice, the opposition has targeted it over allegations of corruption and concerns about power shortages.
