2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election


The thirteenth legislative assembly election, of Tamil Nadu was held on 8 May 2006. It was held for all 234 constituencies to elect the government in the state of for the following five years. The votes were counted three days later on 11 May 2006 and all the results were out by the end of the day. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led front won the elections, with the DMK emerging as the single-largest party with 96 seats, and its leader, M Karunanidhi was sworn in as Chief Minister for a fifth and final term. This election marked the first time the state saw a hung assembly with no party gaining a majority of its own. As a result, DMK formed a minority government with its allies, which is the first in the state since the 1952 election. 13th Assembly was instituted due to this election.
The election marked the electoral debut of actor Vijayakanth and his political outfit, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam. Though the party could only gain a single seat, it cut into the vote share of both DMK and AIADMK and emerged as a third alternative to the existing two Dravidian parties.

Polling

48848484848 polling stations were set up for electorate, that sized up to 46,607 eligible voters.

Political parties and the alliances

Tamil Nadu has a remarkable history of being dominated by the local parties, DMK or AIADMK, while the national parties have a strong presence in other states. The parties have resorted to forming alliances in the last few elections to take on each sides for power.
Striking changes in the alliances included the swap of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam from DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led alliance. While Dalit Panthers of India joined the AIADMK alliance, all other major parties in the fray such as Pattali Makkal Katchi, Indian National Congress, CPM and Communist Party of India, aligned themselves with the DMK party.
There were two notable new parties — Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam formed in September 2005 by actor-turned-politician Vijaykanth, and Lok Paritran formed by Indian Institutes of Technology graduates in February 2006. Both contested alone in this elections.
The contest was between two major alliances in a seat-sharing agreement, the AIADMK alliance and the DMK alliance. These archrivals had a face-off in 106 seats.
Exit Polls predicted a 157-167 seats in favour of the DMK alliance, while the AIADMK alliance was expected to get 64-74 seats in the assembly.
Before the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, the Pattali Makkal Katchi left the DMK, citing differences with its leader M. Karunanidhi, and joined the AIADMK, and the Third Front.

Seat allotments

AIADMK Front

Source: Financial Express
No.
PartyElection SymbolLeaderSeats
1.All India Anna Dravida Munnetra KazhagamJ.Jayalalithaa182
2.Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra KazhagamVaiko35
3.Viduthalai Chiruthaigal KatchiThol. Thirumavalavan9
Unregistered parties, whose candidates ran under the AIADMK ticketUnregistered parties, whose candidates ran under the AIADMK ticketUnregistered parties, whose candidates ran under the AIADMK ticketUnregistered parties, whose candidates ran under the AIADMK ticketUnregistered parties, whose candidates ran under the AIADMK ticket
4.Indian National LeagueJanab2
5.Indian National Trade Union CongressP.L. Subbaiah2
6.Indian Union Muslim League 1
7.MMK1
8.Forward Bloc 1
9.Janata Dal 1

DMK Front

Source: Outlook India
No.
PartyElection SymbolLeaderSeats
6.Indian Union Muslim League2

Opinion polling

Pre-poll surveys

Exit polls

RegionDPA AIADMK+DMDK
Vanniyars: PMK could not swing the community towards DMK alliance, especially in the North Central Region Vanniyars: PMK could not swing the community towards DMK alliance, especially in the North Central Region Vanniyars: PMK could not swing the community towards DMK alliance, especially in the North Central Region Vanniyars: PMK could not swing the community towards DMK alliance, especially in the North Central Region
Upper North40%45%11%
North Central53%32%9%
Cauvery Delta55%28%10%
West53%28%11%
Thevars: No longer with AIADMK in Cauvery Delta and the WestThevars: No longer with AIADMK in Cauvery Delta and the WestThevars: No longer with AIADMK in Cauvery Delta and the WestThevars: No longer with AIADMK in Cauvery Delta and the West
Cauvery Delta51%38%7%
West43%39%11%
South39%44%8%
Deep South13%52%2%
Muslims in favor of DMK alliance, especially in Deep SouthMuslims in favor of DMK alliance, especially in Deep SouthMuslims in favor of DMK alliance, especially in Deep SouthMuslims in favor of DMK alliance, especially in Deep South
Upper North43%30%18%
North Central36%39%18%
Cauvery Delta53%37%5%
West50%31%10%
South50%38%7%
Deep South73%9%5%
Christians stayed with DMK alliance, especially in the SouthChristians stayed with DMK alliance, especially in the SouthChristians stayed with DMK alliance, especially in the SouthChristians stayed with DMK alliance, especially in the South
Upper North49%29%13%
North Central47%36%12%
Cauvery Delta46%39%9%
West48%29%10%
South60%33%4%
Deep South64%16%7%

Voting and results

The 2006 Tamil Nadu State Elections saw a record voter turnout of 70.70% an 11% increase compared to the last 2001 elections and the highest since the 1991 elections which saw an 85% voter turnout. The ruling party AIADMK was voted out of power with the DMK alliance regaining power after losing out in the previous elections with a paltry 37 seats. This time however, no party reached the simple majority of 117 of the 234 seats. DMK grabbed the highest number of seats for any contesting party, while AIADMK followed with 61 seats. The Congress won 34 seats while the other national party, Bharatiya Janata Party, drew blank after contesting alone in this elections. PMK managed to win 18 seats followed by the Communists. MDMK, the party that jumped alliance won 6 seats and the DPI won 2 seats. DMDK, even while contesting in 232 seats managed to score just one seat, with the party leader actor vijayakant winning the seat he contested in Vridhachalam Constituency. There was 1 independent winner.
The split results paved way for the formation of the new coalition government led by DMK chief, the 82-year-old veteran politician Dr.M Karunanidhi, becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time, with the Congress unconditionally supporting his claim for Chief Ministership and government formation.
Due to the loss of key allies after the previous election, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, ended up losing both the 2004 Lok Sabha Election and the 2006 State Assembly Elections, to DMK led coalition that consisted of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and former allies of ADMK, Indian National Congress, left parties and Pattali Makkal Katchi.

Results by pre-poll alliance

: Seat changes reflect the following mergers in parties from previous election. MADMK merged with Bharatiya Janata Party in 2002. TMC merged with the national party INC in 2002. Usilampatti FBL MLA L. Santhanam, joined AIADMK and contested in Sholavandan, after being expelled from his party by newly elected actor-turned party leader Karthik Muthuraman.

: Vote % reflects the percentage of votes the party received compared to the entire electorate that voted in this election. Adjusted Vote %, reflects the % of votes the party received per constituency that they contested.

Constituency wise results

The following table lists the winners and margin of victory in all constituencies.
Assembly ConstituencyPartyWinnerRunner-upParty
Acharapakkam DMKSankaravalliM. SaraswathiADMK
AlandurDMKT. M. AnbarasanB. ValarmathiADMK
AlangudiCPIS. RajasekaranA. VenkatachalamADMK
AlangulamDMKPoongothai AladiarunaM. PandiarajADMK
AmbasamudramDMKR. AvudaiyappanR. Murugiah PandianADMK
AnaicutAIADMKK. PanduranganM. VaralakshmiPMK
AndhiyurDMKS. GurusamyM. SubramaniamADMK
AndimadamDMKS. S. SivasankarK. PanneerselvamADMK
AndipattiAIADMKJ. JayalalithaaSeemanDMK
Anna NagarDMKArcot N. VeeraswamiVijaya ThayanbanMDMK
Arakkonam DMKM. JaganmoorthyS. RaviADMK
ArantangiDMKUdayam ShanmugamY. KarthikeyanADMK
AravakurichiDMKM. A. Khaleelur RahmanP. Monjanur RamasamyMDMK
ArcotPMKK. L. ElavazhaganV. R. ChandranADMK
AriyalurINCD. AmaramoorthyM. RavichandranADMK
ArniDMKR. SivanandamA. SanthanamADMK
AruppukottaiDMKThangam ThenarasuK. MuruganADMK
AthoorDMKI. PeriasamyC. SreenivasanADMK
AtturINCM. R. SundaramA. K. MurugesanADMK
Avanashi AIADMKR. PremaM. ArumugamCPI
BargurAIADMKDr. Thambidurai MV. VetriselvanDMK
BhavaniPMKK. V. RamanathanK. C. KaruppannanADMK
BhavanisagarDMKO. SubramaniamSindu RavichandranADMK
BhuvanagiriAIADMKSelvi RamajayamK. DevadassPMK
BodinayakkanurDMKS. LakshmananR. ParthipanADMK
ChengalpattuPMKK. ArumugamS. ArumugamADMK
Chengam INCM. Polur VaradhanP. SakthivelVCK
ChepaukDMKM. KarunanidhiDawood MiakhanIND
CheranmahadeviINCP. VelduraiP. H. Paul Manoj PandianADMK
CheyyarINCM. K. VishnuprasadR. PavaiADMK
ChidambaramAIADMKA. ArunmozhidevanK. BalakrishnanCPI
ChinnasalemDMKT. UdhayasooriyanP. MohanADMK
Coimbatore EastDMKM. Pongalur PalanisamyV. GopalakrishnanADMK
Coimbatore WestAIADMKT. MalaravanA. S. MaheswariINC
ColachelINCS. JeyapaulM. R. GandhiBJP
Coonoor DMKA. SoundarapandianM. SelvarajADMK
CuddaloreDMKG. IyyappanG. KumarADMK
CumbumMDMKN. EramakrishnanP. SelvendranDMK
Dharapuram DMKP. PrabavathiM. RanganayahiADMK
DharmapuriPMKL. VelusamyV. S. SampathMDMK
DindigulCPIK. BalabarathiN. SelvaragavanMDMK
Dr.Radhakrishnan NagarAIADMKP. K. Sekar BabuR. ManoharINC
EdapadiPMKV. KaveriK. PalaniswamiADMK
Egmore DMKParithi EllamvazhuthiC. E. SathyaMDMK
ErodeDMKN. K. K. P. RaajaE. R. SivakumarADMK
GingeeDMKV. KannanR. MasilamaniMDMK
GobichettipalayamAIADMKK. A. SengottaiyanG. V. ManimaranDMK
GudalurDMKK. RamachandhiranA. MillarADMK
GudiyathamCPIG. LathaJ. K. N. PalaniADMK
GummidipundiAIADMKK. S. VijayakumarDurai. JeyaveluPMK
HarbourDMKK. AnbazhaganH. Seema BasheerMDMK
HarurCPIP. DillibabuK. GovindasamyVCK
HosurINCK. GopinathV. SampangiramaiahADMK
IlaiyangudiDMKR. S. Raja KannappanK. AyyachamyADMK
JayankondamAIADMKK. RajendranJ. GurunathanPMK
KadaladiDMKSuba. ThangavelanV. SathiamoorthyADMK
KadayanallurINCS. Peter AlphonseU. H. KamaludeenADMK
KalasapakkamAIADMKAgri S. S. KrishnamurthyR. KalodassPMK
KancheepuramPMKP. KamalambalT. MythiliADMK
Kandamangalam DMKS. PushparajV. SubramaniyanADMK
KangayamINCS. SekarN. M. S. PalaniswamiADMK
KanniyakumariDMKN. Suresh RajanN. Thalavai SundaramADMK
KapilamalaiPMKK. NedunchezianT. N. GuruswamyMDMK
KaraikudiINCN. SundaramO. L. VenkatachalamADMK
KarurAIADMKV. Senthil BalajiVasuki MurugesanDMK
KatpadiDMKDurai MuruganB. NarayananADMK
Kattumannarkoil )DPID. RavikumarP. VellalperumanINC
KaveripattinamPMKT. A. MeganathanK. P. MunusamyADMK
KilliyoorINCS. John JacobT. Chandra KumarBJP
KinathukadavuAIADMKS. DamodaranK. V. KandasamyDMK
Kolathur AIADMKN. SubramanianC. ParanjothiDMK
KovilpattiAIADMKL. RadhakrishnanS. RajendranCPI
KrishnagiriDMKT. SenguttuvanV. GovindarajADMK
Krishnarayapuram DMKP. KamarajR. SasikalaADMK
KulithalaiDMKR. ManickamA. PappasundaramADMK
KumbakonamDMKKo. Si. ManiRama. RamanathanADMK
KurinjipadiDMKM. R. K. Panneer SelvamN. RamalingamMDMK
KuttalamDMKKuttalam K. AnbazhaganS. RajendranADMK
LalgudiDMKA. SoundarapandianT. RajaramADMK
Madurai CentralDMKP. T. R. Palanivel RajanS. T. K. JakkaiyanADMK
Madurai EastCPINanmaran NM. BoominathanMDMK
Madurai WestINCK. S. K. RajendranSellur K. RajuADMK
MaduranthakamINCK. Ghayathri DeviK. AppaduraiADMK
ManamaduraiAIADMKM. GunasekaranK. ParamalaiINC
Mangalur DPIK. SelvamV. GanesanDMK
MannargudiCPIV. SivapunniyamR. KamarajADMK
MarungapuriAIADMKC. ChinnasamyA. RokkiahDMK
MetturPMKG. K. ManiK. KandasamyADMK
MayiladuturaiINCS. RajakumarM. MahalingamMDMK
MelmalaiyanurPMKP. SenthamizhselvanR. Tamilmozhi RajadathanADMK
MelurAIADMKR. SamyK. V. V. RavichandranINC
MettupalayamAIADMKO. K. ChinnarajB. ArunkumarDMK
ModakkurichiINCR. M. PalanisamiV. P. Namachivaya,ADMK
MorappurDMKV. MullaivendhanK. SingaramADMK
MudukulathurDMKK. MurugavelS. P. KalimuthuADMK
MugaiyurPMKV. A. T. KaliyavarathanSinthanai SelvanVCK
MusiriDMKN. SelvarajT. P. PoonachiADMK
MylaporeAIADMKS. Ve. ShekherD. NapoleonDMK
NagapattinamCPIV. MarimuthuK. A. JayapalADMK
NagercoilDMKsuyambuprakesh.kIVP
NamakkalINCK. JeyakumarR. SaradhaADMK
NanguneriINCH. VasanthakumarS. P. SooriyakumarADMK
Nannilam CPIP. PadmavathyK. ArivanandamADMK
NathamAIADMKR. ViswanathanM. A. AndiambalamDMK
NatrampalliDMKN. K. R. SooriyakumarK. G. SubramaniADMK
NellikkuppamDMKSaba. RajendranR. T. Sabapathi MohanMDMK
NilakottaiAIADMKS. ThenmozhiK. SenthilvelINC
OddanchatramDMKA. R. A. ChakkarapaniK. P. NallasamyADMK
OmalurPMKA. TamizharasuC. KrishnanADMK
OrathanadAIADMKR. VaithilingamP. RajamanickamDMK
OttapidaramAIADMKP. MohanK. KrishnasamyBSP
PadmanabhapuramDMKT. Theodare ReginaldK. P. Rajendra PrasadADMK
PalacodeAIADMKK. P. AnbalaganK. MannanPMK
PalaniDMKM. AnbalakanS. PremaADMK
PalayamkottaiDMKT. P. M. Mohideen KhanK. M. NijamudeenADMK
PalladamAIADMKS. M. VelusamyS. S. PonmudiDMK
PallipattuINCE. S. S. RamanP. M. NarasimhanADMK
PanamarathupattiDMKR. RajendranR. ElangovanADMK
PanrutiPMKT. VelmuruganR. RajendiranADMK
PapanasamAIADMKR. DoraikannuM. RamkumarINC
Paramakudi INCR. RamprabhuS. SundararajADMK
Park TownAIADMKK. SrinivasanA. Rahman KhanADMK
PattukkottaiINCN. R. RengarajanS. ViswanathanMDMK
PennagaramDMKP. N. PeriannanS. R. VetrivelADMK
Perambalur DMKM. RajkumarM. SundaramADMK
Perambur CPIK. MahendranP. ManimaranMDMK
PeravuraniAIADMKM. V. R. VeerakapilanS. V. Thirugnana SambandamINC
PeriyakulamAIADMKO. PanneerselvamL. MookiahDMK
PeranamallurPMKG. EdirolimanianA. K. S. AnbalaganADMK
Pernambut DMKA. ChinnasamyS. Chandra SethuADMK
PerunduraiAIADMKC. PonnuduraiN. PeriyasamyCPI
PerurAIADMKS. P. VelumaniN. RukumaniDMK
PollachiAIADMKV. JayaramanD. Shanthi DeviDMK
PolurINCP. S. VijayakumarT. VediyappanADMK
PongalurDMKS. ManiP. V. DamodaranADMK
Ponneri AIADMKP. BalaramananV. AnbuvananDMK
PoombuharPMKK. PeriyasamyS. PounrajADMK
PoonamalleeINCD. SudarsanamR. SenguttuvanMDMK
PudukkottaiAIADMKR. NedunchezhianM. Jaafar AliDMK
PurasawalkamDMKV. S. BabuVenkatesh BabuADMK
RadhapuramDMKM. AppavuL. GnanapunithaADMK
Rajapalayam AIADMKM. ChandraV. P. RajanDMK
RamanathapuramINCK. Hussan AliM. PalanichamyMDMK
RanipetDMKR. GandhiR. ThamizharasanADMK
RasipuramDMKK. P. RamaswamyP. R. SundaramADMK
RoyapuramAIADMKD. JayakumarS. P. Sarkuna PandianDMK
RishivandiyamINCS. SivarajL. AthinarayananADMK
SaidapetAIADMKG. SenthamizhanC. R. BaskaranPMK
Salem - IAIADMKL. RavichandranM. R. SureshINC
Salem - IIDMKS. ArumugamR. SureshkumarADMK
Samayanallur DMKR. TamilarasiP. LakshmiADMK
Sankaranayanarkoil AIADMKC. KaruppasamyS. ThangaveluDMK
SankarapuramDMKA. AnagaiyarkanniP. SanniyasiADMK
Sankari DMKV. P. DuraisamyS. ShanthamaniADMK
SathyamangalamDMKL. P. DharmalingamT. K. SubramaniamADMK
SathangulamINCRani VenkatesanNazareth P. DuraiMDMK
SatturDMKK. K. S. S. R. RamachandranG. ChockeswaranADMK
SedapattiAIADMKC. DurairajG. ThalapathiDMK
Sendamangalam DMKK. PonnusamyP. ChandranADMK
SholavandanDMKP. MoorthyL. SanthanamADMK
SholinghurINCD. Arul AnbarasuC. GopalADMK
SinganallurAIADMKR. ChinnaswamyA. SoundararajanCPI
Sirkazhi DMKM. PanneerselvamP. DurairajanVCK
SivagangaCPIS. GunasekaranS. SevanthiappanMDMK
SivakasiMDMKR. GnanadossV. ThangarajDMK
Sriperumbudur INCD. YasodhaK. BalakrishnanVCK
SrirangamAIADMKM. ParanjothiG. Jerome ArokiarajINC
SrivaikuntamINCD. SelvarajS. P. ShanmuganathanADMK
SrivilliputhurCPIT. RamasamyR. VinayagamoorthyADMK
Talavasal DMKK. ChinnaduraiP. ElangovanADMK
TambaramDMKS. R. RajaK. SomuMDMK
TaramangalamPMKV. MariappanP. GovindanIND
TenkasiDMKV. Karuppasamy PandianRama UdayasuriyanMDMK
ThalliIndT. RamachandranP. Nagaraja ReddyCPI
ThandarambattuDMKE. V. VeluS. RamachandranADMK
ThanjavurDMKS. N. M. UbayadullahM. RengasamyADMK
Theagaraya NagarAIADMKV. P. KalairajanJ. AnbazhaganDMK
TheniAIADMKD. GanesanN. R. T. TajkumarINC
ThirumangalamMDMKVeera.IlavarasanV. VelusamyDMK
ThirupparankundramAIADMKA. K. BoseS. VenkatesanCPI
ThiruveramburDMKK. N. SekaranSridhar VandayarADMK
ThiruvidamarudurAIADMKR. K. BharathimohanG. AlayamaniPMK
ThiruvonamDMKT. Mahesh KrishnasamyK. ThangamuthuADMK
ThiruvottiyurDMKK. P. P. SamyV. MoorthyADMK
ThondamuthurMDMKM. KannappanS. R. BalasubramaniamINC
ThottiamINCM. RajasekharanR. NatarajanMDMK
Thousand LightsDMKM. K. StalinAdhi RajaramADMK
TindivanamAIADMKC. V. ShanmugamM. KarunanidhiPMK
TiruchendurAIADMKAnitha R RadhakrishnanA. D. K. JeyaseelanDMK
TiruchengodeAIADMKP. ThangamaniS. GandhiselvanDMK
Tiruchirappalli - IDMKAnbil PeriyasamyA. malarmannanMDMK
TiruchirappalliDMKK. N. NehruN. MariyampitchaiADMK
TirumayamINCR. M. SubburamM. RadhakrishnanADMK
TirunavalurAIADMKR. KumaraguruV. S. VeerapandianDMK
TirunelveliDMKN. Malai RajaNainar NagenthiranADMK
Tiruppattur DMKK. R. PerikaruppanK. K. UmadhevanADMK
Tiruppattur PMKT. K. RajaK. C. AzhagiriMDMK
Tirupporur PMKD. MoorthyM. DhanapanADMK
TiruppurCPIC. GovindasamyS. DuraisamyMDMK
TiruttaniAIADMKG. HariG. RavirajPMK
Tiruthuraipundi CPIK. UlaganathanA. UmadeviADMK
TiruvadanaiINCK. R. RamasamyC. AnimuthuADMK
TiruvaiyaruDMKDurai. ChandrasekaranDurai. GovindarajanADMK
TiruvallurDMKE. A. P. SivajiB. RamanaADMK
TiruvannamalaiDMKK. PitchandiV. Pavan KumarADMK
Tiruvarur DMKU. MathivananA. ThangamaniADMK
ThiruvattarCPIR. Leema RoseG. Sujith KumarBJP
TriplicaneAIADMKBader SayeedM. NaganathanDMK
TuticorinDMKP. Geetha JeevanS. DanielrajADMK
UdagamandalamINCB. GopalanK. N. DoraiADMK
UdumalpetAIADMKC. ShanmugaveluC. VeluchamyDMK
Ulundurpet DMKK. ThirunavukarasuE. VijayaraghavanVCK
Uppiliyapuram DMKR. RaniP. MuthusamyADMK
UsilampattiAIADMKI. MahendranP. V. KathiravanDMK
UthiramerurDMKK. SundarV. SomasundaramADMK
Valangiman AIADMKIlamathi SubramanianS. Senthamil ChelvanDMK
Valparai INCKovai ThangamS. Susi KalayarasanVCK
Vandavasi DMKJeyaramanM. ChakrapaniADMK
VaniyambadiDMKH. Abdul BasithK. Mohammad AliADMK
Vanur AIADMKN. GanapathyN. SoundararajanPMK
Varahur AIADMKM. ChanthirakasiK. GopalakrishnanPMK
Vasudevanallur MDMKT. Sadhan Thirumalai KumarR. KrishnanCPI
VedaranyamDMKS. K. VedarathinamO. S. ManiyanADMK
VedasandurDMKM. DhandapaniS. PalanichamyADMK
VeerapandiDMKA. RajendranV. S. VeerapandianDMK
VellakoilDMKM. P. SaminathanA. GaneshamurthiMDMK
VelloreINCC. GnanasekaranN. SubramaniMDMK
VeilathikulamAIADMKP. ChinnappanK. RajaramDMK
VilavancodeCPIG. John JosephF. FrankilnADMK
VillivakkamDMKB. RanganathanG. KalanADMK
VillupuramDMKK. PonmudyD. DuraisamyDMK
VirudhunagarMDMKR. VaradharajanS. DamodharanINC
VridhachalamDMDKVijayakanthR. GovindasamyPMK
Yercaud DMKC. TamilselvanJ. AlameluADMK

Footnotes