Tiruchendur
All 13 candidates
| # | Candidate | Votes · share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anitha R. RadhakrishnanWonDMK Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 72,72339.09% |
| 2 | J. MuruganTVK Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam | 66,85135.93% |
| 3 | K. R. M. RadhakrishnanBJP Bharatiya Janata Party | 34,15918.36% |
| Below this line, candidates lost their deposit: 30,888 votes or fewer, one-sixth of the 1,85,328 votes for all candidates | ||
| 4 | Ophiliya (lost deposit)NTK Naam Tamilar Katchi | 9,7945.26% |
| NOTANone of the above: not a candidate | 7220.39% | |
| 5 | Gopalakrishnan (lost deposit)AIPTMM All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam | 4420.24% |
| 6 | M. Maharajan (lost deposit)PMTDK Puthiya Makkal Tamil Desam Katchi | 3210.17% |
| 7 | K. Rasik Mussammil (lost deposit)TVAK Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi | 2370.13% |
| 8 | S. Venkatesh Perumal (lost deposit)IND Independent | 2250.12% |
| 9 | Meera Sahib (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1750.09% |
| 10 | P. S. J. Shaik Abdul Kader (lost deposit)IND Independent | 1490.08% |
| 11 | T. Packia Sam (lost deposit)NIP Naam Indiar Party | 970.05% |
| 12 | T. Veerappa (lost deposit)IND Independent | 960.05% |
| 13 | M. Rajalingam (lost deposit)IND Independent | 590.03% |
Tiruchendur 2026: Anitha Radhakrishnan wins fourth straight term
Then fisheries minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan won Tiruchendur for a fourth straight time with 72,723 votes, holding off TVK's J. Murugan. The DMK senior's margin slipped from 26,001 in 2016 to 25,263 in 2021 to under six thousand in 2026, with TVK's first outing turning the coastal seat into a real contest.
Where Tiruchendur was won
| Led by | Booths of 308 | Villages of 43 |
|---|---|---|
| Anitha R. Radhakrishnan DMK | 122 | 19 |
| J. Murugan TVK | 143 | 20 |
| Others | 43 | 4 |
| Closest village | Kachanavilai: TVK ahead by 6 | |
Anitha R. Radhakrishnan’s biggest leads
- Kayalpattinam+11,16647 booths
- Melatiruchendur+1,1387 booths
- Nazareth+1,02118 booths
J. Murugan’s best villages
- Tiruchendur+3,44435 booths
- Arumuganeri+1,57329 booths
- Punnaikayal+1,2509 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
- Thoothukkudi
- Electors, 2026
- 2,32,933women 1,19,496 (51.3%) · men 1,13,407 (48.7%) · third gender 30
Sources · electoral roll, reservation: ECI · Lok Sabha seat: 2008 delimitation order
Postal ballot breakdown
2,296 postal ballots · from polling staff, election-duty officers, absentee voters · counted before EVM rounds
| # | Candidate | Party | Postal votes | EVM votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anitha R. Radhakrishnan | DMK | 1,159 | 71,564 | 72,723 |
| 2 | J. Murugan | TVK | 501 | 66,350 | 66,851 |
| 3 | K. R. M. Radhakrishnan | BJP | 494 | 33,665 | 34,159 |
| 4 | Ophiliya | NTK | 118 | 9,676 | 9,794 |
| 5 | Nota | NOTA | 12 | 710 | 722 |
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 | 5,872 | 164th | 11,416 |
| Winner’s share | 39.1% | 90th | 37.4% |
| Turnout | 79.9% | 203rd | 86.9% |
| Votes cast | 1,86,050 | 181st | 2,08,471 |
| Candidates | 13 | =165th | 15 |
| NOTA votes | 722 | 137th | 784 |
| Since 2021 | DMK held the seat. In 2021 Anitha R. Radhakrishnan won it by 25,263 votes. | ||
Winners and runners-up, 1996–2026
2011, 2016 and 2021 rows: checked against the ECI detailed results. Earlier rows: secondary sources.
About Tiruchendur
Tiruchendur is a coastal pilgrimage town in Thoothukudi district, home to the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy temple, one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan and the only one set on a beach. The constituency takes in the town plus the surrounding fishing villages and salt-pan stretches that run north to Tuticorin port.
The economy turns on the temple-pilgrimage flow, marine fishing, salt manufacture and the Sterlite-era industrial belt that still shapes local politics. Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, who switched from AIADMK to DMK, has dominated the seat since 2001 and was fisheries minister in the 2021–2026 DMK government.
Plan a visit
Take the dawn darshan at the Tiruchendur Murugan temple right above the surf, walk the long beach toward the Nazareth fishing villages, and drive north to Tuticorin's pearl-diver harbour and the salt pans. Kanniyakumari's three-sea confluence is two hours south for a longer trip.
Plan your trip on TN Explorer →Quick answers
Who won Tiruchendur in the 2026 Tamil Nadu election?
Anitha R. Radhakrishnan of DMK won Tiruchendur (AC 215) in the April 2026 Assembly election with 72,723 votes, 39.09% of the votes polled, ahead of J. Murugan of TVK by 5,872 votes.
Who is the MLA of Tiruchendur?
Anitha R. Radhakrishnan of DMK was elected MLA for Tiruchendur in April 2026 and sits in the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly.
What was the turnout in Tiruchendur in 2026?
Turnout was 79.9%: 1,86,050 of 2,32,933 electors voted.
Which district is Tiruchendur in?
Tiruchendur (constituency number 215) is in Thoothukudi district, part of the Thoothukkudi Lok Sabha seat.
Who won Tiruchendur before 2026?
In 2021 Anitha R. Radhakrishnan of DMK won by 25,263 votes over M. Radhakrishnan. In 2016 Anitha R. Radhakrishnan of DMK won by 26,001 votes over R. Sarathkumar.
Sources: Form 20, booth-wise result (PDF)ECI result, AC 215
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