Cumbum
All 19 candidates
| # | Candidate | Votes · share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | P. L. A. JeganathmishraWonTVK Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam | 85,39440.55% |
| 2 | N. EramakrishnanDMK Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 84,64340.20% |
| Below this line, candidates lost their deposit: 34,984 votes or fewer, one-sixth of the 2,09,907 votes for all candidates | ||
| 3 | S. T. K. Jakkaiyan (lost deposit)AIADMK All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 27,30712.97% |
| 4 | A. Anbuselvi (lost deposit)NTK Naam Tamilar Katchi | 9,5994.56% |
| NOTANone of the above: not a candidate | 6670.32% | |
| 5 | M. Muthu Bagavathi (lost deposit)TVAK Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi | 4310.20% |
| 6 | T. Rajamohammed (lost deposit)IND Independent | 4220.20% |
| 7 | S. Kathiravan (lost deposit)NGPP New Generation People's Party | 3190.15% |
| 8 | P. Prakash (lost deposit)IND Independent | 2540.12% |
| 9 | G. Muthuselvam (lost deposit)IND Independent | 2140.10% |
| 10 | I. Thasthakeer (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1960.09% |
| 11 | A. Ashok Kumar (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1840.09% |
| 12 | P. Prakash (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1810.09% |
| 13 | A. Arunkumar (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1610.08% |
| 14 | R. Vinoth Kumar (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1540.07% |
| 15 | S. R. Saravanan (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1110.05% |
| 16 | R. Balan (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1060.05% |
| 17 | S. Rajadurai (lost deposit)IND Independent | 980.05% |
| 18 | A. Nanthakumar (lost deposit)IND Independent | 710.03% |
| 19 | L. R. Subramaniyam (lost deposit)IND Independent | 620.03% |
Cumbum — TVK pips DMK's veteran N. Eramakrishnan in the Western Ghats
Cumbum has been DMK strongman N. Eramakrishnan's seat for two decades. He won it in 2006 (as MDMK), 2009 (DMK by-election, 57,373-vote margin), 2011, and 2021 (a thumping 42,413-vote margin). AIADMK's S. T. K. Jakkaiyan interrupted with a 2016 win.
In 2026 TVK newcomer Jeganathmishra PLA pulled off one of the night's tightest upsets — beating Eramakrishnan narrowly in this cardamom-and-grape belt seat.
Where Cumbum was won
| Led by | Booths of 345 | Villages of 21 |
|---|---|---|
| P. L. A. Jeganathmishra TVK | 191 | 7 |
| N. Eramakrishnan DMK | 147 | 14 |
| Others | 7 | 0 |
| Closest village | Chinnaovalapuram: DMK ahead by 5 | |
P. L. A. Jeganathmishra’s biggest leads
- Cumbum+4,12040 booths
- Chinnamanur+2,63047 booths
- Odaipatti+1,10115 booths
N. Eramakrishnan’s best villages
- Uthamapalayam South+4,34734 booths
- Uthamapuram+1,59937 booths
- Kombai West+55019 booths
Counted from Form 20, booth by booth (vote leads are in votes cast at the booth; postal ballots are counted for the whole seat only).
Every village and booth
The constituency
- Reservation
- General seat (not reserved)
- Lok Sabha seat
- Theni
- Electors, 2026
- 2,55,888women 1,32,325 (51.7%) · men 1,23,541 (48.3%) · third gender 22
Sources · electoral roll, reservation: ECI · Lok Sabha seat: 2008 delimitation order
Postal ballot breakdown
2,843 postal ballots · from polling staff, election-duty officers, absentee voters · counted before EVM rounds
| # | Candidate | Party | Postal votes | EVM votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeganathmishra Pla | TVK | 1,054 | 84,340 | 85,394 |
| 2 | N. Eramakrishnan | DMK | 1,049 | 83,594 | 84,643 |
| 3 | S. T. K. Jakkaiyan | AIADMK | 454 | 26,853 | 27,307 |
| 4 | A. Anbuselvi | NTK | 232 | 9,367 | 9,599 |
| 5 | Nota | NOTA | 23 | 644 | 667 |
Source: Election Commission of India · Form 20 data via results.eci.gov.in
How this seat compares
| Measure | This seat | Rank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winning margin, votes | 751 | 224th | 11,416 |
| Winner’s share | 40.6% | 76th | 37.4% |
| Turnout | 82.3% | 183rd | 86.9% |
| Votes cast | 2,10,574 | 108th | 2,08,471 |
| Candidates | 19 | =74th | 15 |
| NOTA votes | 667 | 160th | 784 |
| Since 2021 | TVK took the seat from DMK. In 2021 N. Eramakrishnan won it by 42,413 votes. | ||
Winners and runners-up, 2006–2026
2011, 2016 and 2021 rows: checked against the ECI detailed results. Earlier rows: secondary sources. Two-part pill: alliance leader first, then the candidate's party.
Eramakrishnan also won the 2009 Cumbum by-election (DMK, 57,373-vote majority).
About Cumbum
Cumbum is the grape capital of Tamil Nadu — its Muscat-style Panneer Thiratchai earned a GI tag in 2022, and the valley between the Western Ghats and the Varushanad hills is a near-continuous trellis of vines, cardamom and coffee. Suruli Falls, mentioned in Kalidasa's Meghaduta, drops out of the Megamalai estates 20 km away.
The Kumily road climbs into Periyar Tiger Reserve and on to Thekkady, making Cumbum the Tamil-side gateway to the Kerala border. Theni district's spice mandis, banana belts and cardamom auction houses all run through this small market town.
Cumbum & the grape valley
Cumbum is Tamil Nadu's grape capital — GI-tagged Panneer Thiratchai vines line the valley between the Ghats and the Varushanad hills. Drive to Suruli Falls (Kalidasa's Meghaduta nods to it), climb to the Megamalai cardamom estates, or take the Kumily road into Periyar Tiger Reserve and Thekkady.
Plan your trip on TN Explorer →Quick answers
Who won Cumbum in the 2026 Tamil Nadu election?
P. L. A. Jeganathmishra of TVK won Cumbum (AC 201) in the April 2026 Assembly election with 85,394 votes, 40.55% of the votes polled, ahead of N. Eramakrishnan of DMK by 751 votes.
Who is the MLA of Cumbum?
P. L. A. Jeganathmishra of TVK was elected MLA for Cumbum in April 2026 and sits in the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly.
What was the turnout in Cumbum in 2026?
Turnout was 82.3%: 2,10,574 of 2,55,888 electors voted.
Which district is Cumbum in?
Cumbum (constituency number 201) is in Theni district, part of the Theni Lok Sabha seat.
Who won Cumbum before 2026?
In 2021 N. Eramakrishnan of DMK won by 42,413 votes over Sayed Khan. In 2016 S. T. K. Jakkaiyan of AIADMK won by 11,221 votes over N. Ramakrishnan.
Sources: Form 20, booth-wise result (PDF)ECI result, AC 201
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