Vilathikulam, located in Thoothukkudi district, has historically been considered an AIADMK stronghold, although the constituency has witnessed occasional gains by the DMK. In the 2021 Assembly elections, DMK’s G. V. Markandayan won with 90,348 votes, defeating AIADMK’s P. Chinnappan by a margin of 38,549 votes. In the 2016 Assembly elections, AIADMK’s K. Uma Maheswari won with 71,496 votes, defeating DMK’s S. Beemaraj by 18,718 votes. In the 2011 Assembly elections, AIADMK’s G. V. Markandayan won with 72,753 votes, defeating INC’s K. Perumalsamy by a margin of 22,597 votes. Historically, since the 1977 elections, the AIADMK has dominated the constituency, winning seven times, while the DMK has won three times. The 234-seat Assembly election in Tamil Nadu will see the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Chief Minister M K Stalin, take on the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and a resurgent BJP-led alliance. The campaign is centred around issues such as welfare schemes, law and order, and the broader debate between Dravidian political identity and national integration narratives. While the DMK government is highlighting its record on industrial growth and social justice, the opposition has targeted it over allegations of corruption and concerns about power shortages.
