Thiruparankundram
All 15 candidates
| # | Candidate | Votes · share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | R. NirmalkumarWonTVK Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam | 1,14,31644.75% |
| 2 | Kiruthiga ThangapandiDMK Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 72,76328.48% |
| 3 | V. V. RajanchellappaAIADMK All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 49,86519.52% |
| Below this line, candidates lost their deposit: 42,386 votes or fewer, one-sixth of the 2,54,318 votes for all candidates | ||
| 4 | T. Sathyadevi (lost deposit)NTK Naam Tamilar Katchi | 14,3505.62% |
| NOTANone of the above: not a candidate | 1,1480.45% | |
| 5 | T. Thanapandian (lost deposit)AIPTMM All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam | 1,0880.43% |
| 6 | A. Sethuraman (lost deposit)PT Puthiya Tamilagam | 3680.14% |
| 7 | P. Raj (lost deposit)IND Independent | 3530.14% |
| 8 | C. Mookkayee (lost deposit)ETMK Ezhuchi Tamilargal Munnetra Kazhagam | 2490.10% |
| 9 | R. Chelladurai (lost deposit)NIP Naam Indiar Party | 2310.09% |
| 10 | M. Syed Ibrahim (lost deposit)TVAK Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi | 1630.06% |
| 11 | Renganathan Doraisamy (lost deposit)RSD Rashtriya Samaj Dal (R) | 1400.05% |
| 12 | K. Vallarasan (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1360.05% |
| 13 | S. Ukkra Pandian (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1220.05% |
| 14 | G. Arumugam (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1080.04% |
| 15 | N. Pounraj (lost deposit)IND Independent | 660.03% |
Thiruparankundram — TVK's Nirmalkumar takes the Murugan-shrine seat
TVK's R. Nirmalkumar won Thiruparankundram over DMK's Kiruthiga Thangapandi — ending the AIADMK's two-term hold on the seat that surrounds one of Lord Murugan's six Aru Padai Veedu (sacred abodes).
AIADMK held this seat through S. M. Seenivel in 2016 and V. V. Rajan Chellappa in 2021 — Chellappa carried it by 29,489 over CPI(M)'s Ponnuthai (on the DMK alliance ticket).
DMDK's A. K. T. Raja famously swept the seat in 2011 by 48,502 votes on the AIADMK alliance ticket — the seat's largest post-2008 margin until the 2026 TVK win came close. The constituency takes its name from the 8th-century rock-cut Pandya temple where Murugan is worshipped as the wedded one — alongside his consort Deivanai.
Where Thiruparankundram was won
| Led by | Booths of 352 | Villages of 35 |
|---|---|---|
| R. Nirmalkumar TVK | 306 | 25 |
| Kiruthiga Thangapandi DMK | 40 | 9 |
| Others | 6 | 1 |
| Closest village | Nallur: TVK ahead by 14 | |
R. Nirmalkumar’s biggest leads
- Madurai+29,495198 booths
- Nilaiyur+3,31915 booths
- Valaiyankulam+1,4017 booths
Kiruthiga Thangapandi’s best villages
- Kompadi+1271 booth
- Thenpalanji+842 booths
- Valaiyapatti+812 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
- Virudhunagar
- Electors, 2026
- 3,11,400women 1,58,980 (51.1%) · men 1,52,389 (48.9%) · third gender 31
Sources · electoral roll, reservation: ECI · Lok Sabha seat: 2008 delimitation order
Postal ballot breakdown
2,119 postal ballots · from polling staff, election-duty officers, absentee voters · counted before EVM rounds
| # | Candidate | Party | Postal votes | EVM votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R. Nirmalkumar | TVK | 738 | 1,13,578 | 1,14,316 |
| 2 | Kiruthiga Thangapandi | DMK | 688 | 72,075 | 72,763 |
| 3 | V. V. Rajanchellappa | AIADMK | 442 | 49,423 | 49,865 |
| 4 | T. Sathyadevi | NTK | 194 | 14,156 | 14,350 |
| 5 | T. Thanapandian | AIPTMM | 20 | 1,068 | 1,088 |
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 | 41,553 | 23rd | 11,416 |
| Winner’s share | 44.7% | 35th | 37.4% |
| Turnout | 82.0% | 186th | 86.9% |
| Votes cast | 2,55,466 | 24th | 2,08,471 |
| Candidates | 15 | =94th | 15 |
| NOTA votes | 1,148 | 41st | 784 |
| Since 2021 | TVK took the seat from AIADMK. In 2021 V. V. Rajan Chellappa won it by 29,489 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.
At Thiruparankundram junior partners have often led the fronts: 2011 saw both major candidates run on alliance tickets (DMDK in AIADMK alliance and INC in DMK alliance); 2021's runner-up Ponnuthai contested on CPI(M) within the DMK alliance; 2006's runner-up was CPI(M) on the DMK alliance side.
AIADMK held the seat for two elections through Seenivel and Rajan Chellappa before TVK's 2026 sweep.
About Thiruparankundram
Thiruparankundram (AC 195) wraps around one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan (Aru Padai Veedu), the 8th-century Pandya rock-cut temple where Murugan is worshipped with his consort Deivanai as the Wedded Form. The constituency lies in southern Madurai district, on the city's south-western edge, with the temple hill rising abruptly from the Vaigai plain.
The Aru Padai Veedu pilgrimage circuit — Palani, Swamimalai, Tiruchendur, Pazhani, Thiruthani and Thiruparankundram — passes through here. AIADMK won it in 2006, 2016 and 2021, DMDK in 2011 and TVK in 2026.
Thiruparankundram & the Murugan Hill
Thiruparankundram is where Lord Murugan married Deivanai — the 8th-century rock-cut Pandya shrine carved into a granite hill that rises sheer from the Vaigai plain, one of the six Aru Padai Veedu abodes of Murugan.
Climb the cave temple's stone steps for the Karthigai Deepam lighting in November, then continue the abode-circuit east to Tiruchendur on the Bay of Bengal coast or north-west to Palani's Dandayudhapani. The shrine, the city of Madurai 8 km north and the Alagar Hills 20 km on the other side make a tight three-temple weekend.
Plan your trip on TN Explorer →Quick answers
Who won Thiruparankundram in the 2026 Tamil Nadu election?
R. Nirmalkumar of TVK won Thiruparankundram (AC 195) in the April 2026 Assembly election with 1,14,316 votes, 44.75% of the votes polled, ahead of Kiruthiga Thangapandi of DMK by 41,553 votes.
Who is the MLA of Thiruparankundram?
R. Nirmalkumar of TVK was elected MLA for Thiruparankundram in April 2026 and sits in the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly.
What was the turnout in Thiruparankundram in 2026?
Turnout was 82.0%: 2,55,466 of 3,11,400 electors voted.
Which district is Thiruparankundram in?
Thiruparankundram (constituency number 195) is in Madurai district, part of the Virudhunagar Lok Sabha seat.
Who won Thiruparankundram before 2026?
In 2021 V. V. Rajan Chellappa of AIADMK won by 29,489 votes over Ponnuthai. In 2016 S. M. Seenivel of AIADMK won by 22,992 votes over M. Manimaran.
Sources: Form 20, booth-wise result (PDF)ECI result, AC 195
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