TN poll results 2026: SP Velumani, the lone warrior of AIADMK in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: While AIADMK crumbled across Western Tamil Nadu, former minister and party heavyweight S P Velumani emerged as the sole saviour for his party in Coimbatore district.Velumani managed to secure his fourth consecutive victory in the Thondamuthur constituency despite the DMK-led alliance and the surging influence of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam reshaping the political map of the region. However, a drastically narrowed margin has sent shockwaves through the AIADMK camp.Historically, Coimbatore has been the “fortress” of the AIADMK. In the previous assembly elections, the party dominated all 10 constituencies in the district. This time, the responsibility of the 21 constituencies across Coimbatore, the Nilgiris and Tirupur rested on Velumani’s shoulders.The results, however, tell a story of a shifting tide. Out of the 21 seats he managed, AIADMK and its allies could only clinch four. In Coimbatore district, the party faced a near-total washout, losing nine out of 10 seats.Political analysts point to the “lone warrior” status of Velumani as a testament to his local clout, but the “reduced margin” is being attributed to the TVK’s aggressive debut. The data suggests that TVK managed to eat into the traditional AIADMK vote bank, particularly among the youth and urban voters who previously saw the AIADMK as the only viable alternative to the DMK.