Palacode election results 2026: AIADMK’s K P Anbalagan emerges victorious by 39,042 votes

K P Anbalagan of AIADMK secured a decisive victory with 1,02,807 votes, winning by a margin of 39,042 votes. He defeated TVK candidate R Gopi, who polled 63,765 votes. DMK candidate DNV Senthilkumar finished third with 50,043 votes.The Palacode constituency witnessed a clash of titans in the 2026 Assembly elections, as the AIADMK re-nominated its five-term strongman and former Minister K. P. Anbalagan. In a strategic move to breach this fortress, the DMK fielded former MP Dr DNV Senthilkumar. The entry of R Gopi of the TVK and Boopathi Ramasamy of the NTK added further pressure, particularly regarding the welfare of the dairy farmers and the Vanniyar electorate.The 2021 election saw K P Anbalagan (AIADMK) secure a commanding win with 110,070 votes (53.63% vote share), defeating P. K. Murugan (DMK) by a margin of 28,100 votes. In 2016, K. P. Anbalagan won a tighter race with 76,143 votes, defeating P K Murugan by 5,983 votes.Voter turnout this year reached 92.57%, maintaining the region's high engagement levels compared to the 87.37% recorded in 2021.Palacode (No. 57) is an agrarian stronghold in the Dharmapuri district, known for tomato and sugarcane cultivation and the Palacode Sugar Mill. A key "Vanniyar belt" seat, it serves as a major indicator of agricultural sentiment and the political influence of dairy farming communities in northern Tamil Nadu.The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections were held in a single phase on April 23, recording a high voter turnout of 85.15%, with results declared on May 4. The polls witnessed an intense three-way contest that challenged the state’s traditional bipolar political structure. The electoral battle was primarily between the DMK-led alliance, including the INC and other parties, headed by MK Stalin and the AIADMK-led alliance, headed by Edappadi K Palaniswami, along with the BJP and other parties. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), marking actor Vijay’s political debut as a third force across all 234 constituencies.