Lok Sabha Election Results 2024: As exit polls indicate a sweeping victory for the DMK in Tamil Nadu, all eyes are on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the AIADMK-led alliance, both vying for the second spot in the state. For the AIADMK, this election is crucial for its survival, as the party has faced consecutive defeats since the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Meanwhile, the BJP sees this as an opportunity to assert its presence and fill the void left by its former alliance partner.
The electoral dynamics are further intensified by the fact that this is the first general election for both the BJP and the AIADMK after their alliance dissolution in the state. This development underscores the significance of the candidates in the electoral fray with 39 constituencies.
Tamilisai Soundararajan (South Chennai)
Tamilisai Soundararajan, a doctor by profession and BJP nominee for South Chennai, is facing a tough battle against an incumbent MP and a former MP. She is up against the incumbent MP Tamizhachi Thangapandian of the DMK and AIADMK's former MP J Jayavardhan.
Tamilisai, who previously served as Telangana Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, resigned from these positions to contest in the elections. A former Tamil Nadu BJP president, she is a well-known figure in South Chennai. The contest is also closely watched since DMK candidate, Tamizhachi Thangapandian, is facing significant anti-incumbency sentiment. This seat was previously represented by Dravidian stalwart and former Tamil Nadu CM Annadurai, adding historical significance to the contest.
A Raja (Nilgiris)
DMK's A Raja, known for his controversial statements and his acquittal in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, is contesting from Nilgiris for the fourth time. The Nilgiris constituency, reserved for Scheduled Castes, features a diverse electorate including Scheduled Castes, tribes and Sri Lankan repatriates.
His main opponents are BJP's L Murugan, former Tamil Nadu BJP president and Union Fisheries Minister of State, and AIADMK's D. Lokesh Tamilselvan, son of former state minister and assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal.
K Annamalai (Coimbatore)
Annamalai, a former IPS officer who joined BJP in August 2020, not only went on to become Tamil Nadu BJP chief but also took a six-month long ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ (my land, my people) padayatra to gain support for PM Modi's third term and the BJP in Tamil Nadu. However, the outcome of his candidature in the Lok Sabha polls, alongside the success of the padayatra, will be revealed on June 4, the counting day.
He faces DMK's former city Mayor P Ganapaty Rajkumar and AIADMK's Singai G Ramachandran in what promises to be a high-stakes contest in Tamil Nadu's second-largest city.
Thol Thirumavalavan (Chidambaram)
Thol Thirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Tamil Nadu's largest Dalit party, is seeking re-election from the Chidambaram constituency. Thirumavalavan won the 2019 election by a narrow margin of 3,219 votes.
This time, he is up against AIADMK's M. Chandrahaasan and BJP's P. Karthiyayini. The Chidambaram constituency has a significant Dalit population, which Thirumavalavan aims to consolidate, while the AIADMK is targeting the Vanniyar vote bank.
O Panneerselvam (Ramanathapuram)
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) is contesting as an independent candidate in Ramanathapuram, with support from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This election is crucial for OPS to maintain his winning streak and demonstrate his political strength following his expulsion from the AIADMK.
Initially, the BJP considered pitching the seat for PM Modi, but OPS stepped in as the candidate.
OPS faces IUML candidate K. Navas Kani from the DMK alliance and AIADMK candidate P. Jeyaperumal.
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