Tamil Nadu Assembly polls 2026: Long-suffering residents of Tiruvannamalai temple town seek a saviour

Chennai: A few party flags hang limp in the summer heat, a lone campaign lorry blaring DMK govt's achievements crawls along the Tiruvannamalai–Kallakurichi road near Melkachirapattu, and the occasional wall bears fading AIADMK and BJP symbols. Even during election season, Tiruvannamalai is a town weighed down by everyday concerns.

Residents say long-pending issues such as poor solid waste management, which leaves mounds of garbage near the temple, and lack of basic infrastructure in and around the temple precinct, have seen no resolution.





There is a discernible undercurrent of dissatisfaction, but DMK continues to hold a clear edge, aided both by its entrenched organisational strength and the absence of a strong, unified challenger. Incumbent MLA E V Velu had won by a margin of more than 94,000 votes so unseating him isn't going to be easy. DMK has won eight of the 12 elections in Tiruvannamalai since 1967.

The Assembly constituency consists of Tiruvannamalai municipal corporation and 65 villages falling under both Tiruvannamalai and Thandrampet blocks.

It has been held continuously by DMK since 1996 when K Pitchandi first won the seat. He retained the seat in 2001 and 2006, and from 2011, Velu took over.

This time Velu faces C Elumalai of BJP who was expelled from DMK after he decided to contest against DMK's official candidate in Polur. He contested the 2016 assembly elections as an independent candidate and clinched the third position in Polur with 38,000 votes. He later joined AIADMK and then BJP. "This time too he is expected to come second in Tiruvannamalai," said M Sivakumar, Tiruvannamalai district executive member, CPM.

BJP, however, is looking to build on its strongest-ever performance in the constituency. In 2021, it emerged as the runner-up for the first time, with S Thanigaivel securing more than 20% of the vote.

This time Elumalai is working to consolidate that base and expand BJP's appeal in a constituency where religious identity and local issues increasingly intersect.

Adding a new dimension to the contest is the debut of TVK. It has fielded environmental activist Arul Arumugam, who was planning to contest as an independent. He became famous after he organised farmers' protests against the proposed Sipcot in Cheyyar. He was arrested and even booked under the Goondas Act. "He is a familiar face among sections of industrial workers and rural voters. It is an attempt by TVK to carve out space, particularly among younger voters," said Elumalai, who works at a lodge in the town.

Despite all these factors, the broader political arithmetic continues to favour the ruling party. Though there are multitude of problems and residents want a change, the absence of a strong opposition candidate have limited the scope for a direct challenge.Get real-time updates and result insights on the CBSE 12 Result 2026.