Madurai Central
Madurai Central 2026: TVK's Badhurudeen ends PTR's run by 19,128 votes
TVK's Madhar Badhurudeen beat former DMK finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan in Madurai Central, polling 63,414 votes to PTR's 44,286. The 19,128-vote margin pulls down one of DMK's most recognisable urban faces in a seat the party had nursed since 2016.
Top 5 candidates
| # | Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MADHAR BADHURUDEEN | TVK | 63,414 | 43.00% |
| 2 | PALANIVEL THIAGA RAJAN | DMK | 44,286 | 30.03% |
| 3 | SUNDAR C | AIADMK | 33,538 | 22.74% |
| 4 | ABDUL HAKEEM K | NTK | 5,549 | 3.76% |
| 5 | NOTA | NOTA | 656 | 0.44% |
Postal ballot breakdown
Postal-ballot leader differs from overall winner. DMK PALANIVEL THIAGA RAJAN led postal ballots (452), but TVK MADHAR BADHURUDEEN won the seat overall (63,414).
| # | Candidate | Party | Postal votes | EVM votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PALANIVEL THIAGA RAJAN | DMK | 452 | 43,834 | 44,286 |
| 2 | MADHAR BADHURUDEEN | TVK | 308 | 63,106 | 63,414 |
| 3 | SUNDAR C | AIADMK | 240 | 33,298 | 33,538 |
| 4 | ABDUL HAKEEM K | NTK | 63 | 5,486 | 5,549 |
| 5 | NOTA | NOTA | 12 | 644 | 656 |
Source: Election Commission of India · Form 20 data via results.eci.gov.in
Past results
Verified winners and runners-up across the last five elections, with the major alliance partners each side fielded.
About Madurai Central
Madurai Central (AC 193) is the heart of the temple city — the wards immediately around Meenakshi Amman temple, the four Masi streets, Simmakkal, Town Hall Road, West Perumal Maistry Street and the trader belt around Pudhumandapam. It is overwhelmingly urban, with a heavy Muslim concentration around Kazimar Street, mercantile castes in the bazaar and a salaried mix in the newer extensions. PTR carried the seat in 2016 by a slim 5,762 and again in 2021 by 34,176; before that it had gone to DMDK's R. Sundarrajan in 2011.
When you are in Madurai Central
Start at the East Tower of Meenakshi Amman temple before the queue thickens, then drift through Pudhumandapam's pillared corridor for tailored jubbas and silver toe-rings. Lunch is non-negotiable at one of Simmakkal's old kari dosa joints, and you finish the day with paruthi paal at a roadside stand on West Masi.
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