Lok Sabha Results: DMK leader Kanimozhi triumphed in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi constituency, defeating AIADMK's Sivasamy Velumani by a staggering margin of 3,92,738 votes, the Election Commission announced on Tuesday. This marks her second consecutive victory from this constituency, following her 2019 win over BJP leader and former Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan by a margin of 3.47 lakh votes.
Kanimozhi is the daughter of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi. Kanimozhi, who also serves as the DMK's deputy general secretary, established a clear lead over her main rival, R. Sivasamy Velumani of AIADMK. Velumani, known for running the Puttur Bone and Joint Fracture Treatment Centre in Chennai, secured only 1,47,991 votes, while Kanimozhi garnered a massive 5,40,729 votes.
In addition to Velumani, Kanimozhi also defeated Vijayaseelan of the Tamil Maanila Congress, who received 1,22,380 votes, and Rowena Ruth Jane of Naam Tamilar Katchi, who obtained 1,20,300 votes. Her victory underscores her strong position in the constituency, where she had previously worked extensively during the floods, bolstering her reputation among the voters.
In the constituency, Kanimozhi also has the support of sizeable support of Nadar community members, a caste group in Tamil Nadu.
All Candidates Lose Deposit
A noteworthy aspect of this election was that 27 candidates, including those from AIADMK, TMC-BJP, NTK, and other parties, lost their deposits, failing to secure one-sixth of the total valid votes. This includes Velumani, who lost despite being a significant contender.
However, the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) showcased significant growth in the polls, securing more than 10% of the votes compared to 5% (49,222 votes) in 2019. This increase highlights the rising influence of NTK in the region.
Meanwhile, I.N.D.I.A swept Lok Sabha Assembly in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by bagging all 40 seats. The DMK alone won 22 seats while INC 9, VCK 2, CPI 2, CPI(M) 2 and MDMK 1.