Tiruvannamalai election results 2026: DMK’s EV Velu wins by 2,455 votes, defeats TVK and BJP

In Tiruvannamalai, EV Velu of DMK secured a narrow victory, polling 88,273 votes. He defeated TVK’s Arul Arumugam by a margin of 2,455 votes. BJP’s C Elumalai finished third with 34,280 votes, as the constituency witnessed a closely contested battle ending in a DMK win.The Tiruvannamalai constituency witnessed a high-stakes battle in the 2026 Assembly elections, with the DMK fielding veteran leader and incumbent Minister E V Velu, who sought to extend his dominant legacy. He faced a spirited challenge from C. Elumalai of the BJP (AIADMK-led alliance), representing the opposition alliance. The contest was further energised by Arul Arumugam of the TVK, who successfully tapped into the urban youth and spiritual tourism workforce, and S Vignesh of the NTK, who focused on ecological preservation of the sacred hill. In the 2021 election, E V Velu (DMK) secured a massive victory with 1,37,876 votes (66.72% vote share), defeating S. Thanigaivel (BJP) by a margin of 94,673 votes. In 2016, E. V. Velu won with 116,484 votes (57.15% vote share), defeating the AIADMK’s K. Rajan by 50,348 votes. Voter turnout this year reached 87.17%, a sharp hike from the 72.16% in 2021. This significant increase is attributed to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, which mobilized first-time voters and pilgrims. Tiruvannamalai (Assembly constituency No. 63) is a premier spiritual and heritage hub. Its economy is centred on temple tourism, the Girivalam path, and agrarian trade. As a DMK bastion, the seat remains a critical indicator of the party's influence 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.