Poompuhar
Poompuhar 2026: DMK's Nivedha holds by 8,260 votes
Nivedha M. Murugan retained Poompuhar for the DMK with 81,096 votes, beating AIADMK's S. Pavunraj by 8,260. The margin is more than double her 2021 win against the same opponent, when she had squeezed past Pavunraj by just 3,299 votes.
Top 5 candidates
| # | Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NIVEDHA M MURUGAN | DMK | 81,096 | 37.20% |
| 2 | PAVUNRAJ. S | AIADMK | 72,836 | 33.41% |
| 3 | VIJAYALAIYAN. J | TVK | 55,902 | 25.64% |
| 4 | ILAYANAGULAN. K | NTK | 6,353 | 2.91% |
| 5 | MAYA VENKATESAN. M | IND | 730 | 0.33% |
Postal ballot breakdown
Postal-ballot leader differs from overall winner. AIADMK PAVUNRAJ. S led postal ballots (543), but DMK NIVEDHA M MURUGAN won the seat overall (81,096).
| # | Candidate | Party | Postal votes | EVM votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PAVUNRAJ. S | AIADMK | 543 | 72,293 | 72,836 |
| 2 | NIVEDHA M MURUGAN | DMK | 542 | 80,554 | 81,096 |
| 3 | VIJAYALAIYAN. J | TVK | 218 | 55,684 | 55,902 |
| 4 | ILAYANAGULAN. K | NTK | 45 | 6,308 | 6,353 |
| 5 | NOTA | NOTA | 7 | 579 | 586 |
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.
Pavunraj has now contested Poompuhar five straight elections - two wins, three second-place finishes, all against DMK alliance candidates.
About Poompuhar
Poompuhar covers the Sirkazhi-Tharangambadi coastline and the ancient Chola port town that gave the seat its name. The booths inland are paddy and groundnut country; the coastal panchayats run on fishing, salt pans and the diaspora money flowing back from Singapore and the Gulf. Sirkazhi town anchors the constituency with its Sattainathar temple and the Thirugnanasambandar legacy. Pavunraj had won this seat for AIADMK in 2011 and 2016 before Nivedha broke the streak in 2021 - this 2026 result confirms the shift rather than reverses it.
Around Poompuhar
Start at the Poompuhar art gallery and the museum on Silappathikaram, then walk down to the open beach where the old port is supposed to lie underwater. Drive 20 km north to Tharangambadi for the Danish fort and the seaside Masilamani temple at sunset.
Plan your trip on TN Explorer →