Tamil Nadu Elections: Meet The Candidates Who Won By Highest Margins In 2021

Chennai

oi-Prakash KL

The 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, which marked a decisive return to power for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), also witnessed several candidates securing emphatic victories with remarkable winning margins. These landslide wins reflected not only strong party organisation but also a consolidation of voter sentiment across key constituencies.

The DMK-led alliance swept to power in the 234-member Assembly, ending a decade of rule by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Within this broader political shift, a handful of constituencies stood out for delivering overwhelming mandates, with some candidates winning by extraordinary margins.

According to official results, the top five victories by margin highlight the scale of dominance in certain regions. I. Periyasamy of the DMK recorded the highest margin in the state, winning the Athoor constituency by a staggering 135,571 votes. He was followed by fellow DMK leader E. V. Velu, who secured Tiruvannamalai with a margin of 94,673 votes, and A. Krishnaswamy, who won Poonamallee by 94,110 votes.

The fourth-largest victory came from Edappadi K. Palaniswami of the AIADMK, who retained his Edappadi seat with a margin of 93,802 votes, demonstrating that the outgoing ruling party continued to hold influence in select pockets. Completing the top five was senior DMK leader K. N. Nehru, who triumphed in Tiruchirappalli West by 85,109 votes.

These substantial margins were not isolated incidents. Several other DMK candidates also secured comfortable leads, particularly in northern and central Tamil Nadu, where the party capitalised on anti-incumbency sentiment and strong grassroots mobilisation. Urban centres, including parts of Chennai, similarly delivered decisive outcomes in favour of the DMK alliance.

Political analysts note that such large margins often indicate a combination of effective campaigning, strong local leadership, and fragmented opposition. In 2021, the AIADMK-led alliance struggled to match the DMK’s cohesion in several constituencies, allowing the latter to convert voter dissatisfaction into commanding leads.

High-margin victories carry strategic importance beyond immediate electoral success. Constituencies won by such large differences are often regarded as “safe seats”, enabling parties to reallocate resources to more competitive regions in future elections. They also enhance the standing of individual leaders within party hierarchies, positioning them as influential figures in governance and policy-making.

Overall, the 2021 election results demonstrated that while Tamil Nadu’s political arena remains fiercely contested, certain constituencies delivered resounding verdicts. These landslide victories formed a crucial pillar of the DMK’s return to power and continue to shape the state’s political dynamics ahead of future electoral battles.