Ranipet election results 2026: TVK’s Thahira wins by 5,787 votes, defeats DMK and BJP

In Ranipet, Thahira of TVK secured a narrow victory, polling 91,149 votes. She defeated DMK’s R Gandhi by a margin of 5,787 votes. BJP’s VM Karthikeyan finished third with 32,060 votes, as the constituency delivered a close and competitive contest ending in a TVK win.The Ranipet constituency witnessed a high-stakes encounter in the 2026 Assembly elections, as the DMK re-nominated its veteran leader and incumbent Minister R. Gandhi, who sought a fourth consecutive victory (and sixth overall) in this segment. He faced the BJP candidate (AIADMK-led alliance) V M Karthikeyan, and the TVK, which introduced a significant new dynamic by fielding Dhaheera. The race was further rounded out by Tharikka Salman, representing the NTK, focusing on the region's industrial and environmental concerns. The 2021 election saw R. Gandhi (DMK) secure a commanding win with 103,291 votes (49% vote share), defeating S M Sugumar (AIADMK), who polled 86,793 votes. The victory margin was 16,498 votes. In the 2016 election, R Gandhi (DMK) won with 81,724 votes, defeating the AIADMK’s C Elumalai by a margin of 7,896 votes. The voter turnout this year was 88.5%, a substantial rise from the 77.24% recorded in 2021, reflecting the intense political mobilisation across the district.Ranipet (Constituency No. 41), the administrative headquarters of the district, is one of South India's premier industrial clusters. Known as the "Leather Hub of Tamil Nadu," it is world-renowned for its leather tanning and export industries, alongside major engineering units like BHEL. Landmarks such as the Palar River banks and the historic Navlakh Bagh define its landscape. A socially diverse and highly urbanised electorate (comprising industrial workers, traders, and a significant minority population) makes this constituency a critical barometer for industrial labour policies and urban environmental management in the state.