Pennagaram election results: TVK’s Gajendran S wins closely fought contest; PMK finishes second

Gajendran S of TVK secured a narrow victory with 81,240 votes, winning by a margin of 3,165 votes. He defeated Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) candidate V Selvam, who polled 78,075 votes. Congress candidate G K M Tamil Kumaran finished third with 53,901 votes.

The Pennagaram constituency witnessed an intense battle in the 2026 Assembly elections, marked by a high-stakes family rivalry. The DMK-led alliance ceded the seat to the INC, which fielded G K M Tamil Kumaran, the son of incumbent MLA G. K. Mani. He faced V. Selvam of the PMK, who fought to retain the party’s traditional citadel. The entry of Gajendran S representing the TVK and Palaniammal of the NTK further split the youth vote, creating a complex multi-cornered contest in this Vanniyar-majority segment.

In the 2021 election, G. K. Mani (PMK) won with 106,123 votes (50.46%), defeating P. N. P. Inbasekaran (DMK), who polled 84,937 votes, by a margin of 21,186 votes. In 2016, P. N. P. Inbasekaran (DMK) secured victory with 76,848 votes, defeating Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK) by 18,446 votes.

Voter turnout this year reached 90.66%, maintaining the constituency’s reputation for high participation compared to the 85.22% recorded in 2021.

Pennagaram (No. 58) is a socially vibrant segment in the Dharmapuri district, home to the famous Hogenakkal Falls. The region is predominantly rural, with an economy based on agriculture and tourism. As a core "PMK stronghold," the seat is a crucial indicator of the shifting political loyalties within the northern Vanniyar belt and the impact of drinking water infrastructure projects.

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.
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