Thoothukkudi, a major port city in southern Tamil Nadu, has traditionally seen strong contests between the AIADMK and the DMK. While the AIADMK held influence here earlier, the constituency has shifted towards the DMK in recent elections. In the 2021 Assembly elections, DMK’s P. Geetha Jeevan won with 92,314 votes, defeating AIADMK’s S. T. Chellapandian by a margin of 50,310 votes. In the 2016 Assembly elections, DMK’s P. Geetha Jeevan secured victory with 88,045 votes, defeating AIADMK’s ST Chellapandian by 20,908 votes. In the 2011 Assembly elections, AIADMK’s ST Chellapandian won the seat with 89,010 votes, defeating DMK’s P. Geetha Jeevan by 26,193 votes. Overall, since the 2011 election cycle referenced here, the DMK has won the seat twice while the AIADMK has won once. 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.
