Chennai, Nov 8 (IANS) The Tirunelveli Assembly constituency, a politically charged battleground in Tamil Nadu, is again at the centre of attention as BJP State President Nainar Nagenthran prepares to seek another term.
His name has become almost synonymous with the constituency, where he has enjoyed consistent success over two decades – often triumphing regardless of party affiliation.
Nagenthran first won the seat in 2001, contesting as an AIADMK candidate and defeating A.L. Subramanian of the DMK by a narrow margin of 722 votes. His victory earned him a place in Jayalalithaa’s cabinet, where he held key portfolios including Transport, Electricity, and Industries.
Despite multiple reshuffles during that period, Jayalalithaa retained her trust in him, allowing him to continue as a minister.
In 2006, fortunes shifted. The DMK reclaimed Tirunelveli, with Subramanian defeating Nagenthran by 606 votes.
Even so, Nagenthran’s vote share increased by five per cent compared to the previous election, proving his growing base among voters.
Five years later, in 2011, he made a strong comeback, defeating A. L. S. Lakshmanan of the DMK by 38,491 votes – one of the largest margins in the region.
However, despite his victory, he was not included in the cabinet that term. The 2016 election brought another reversal when Lakshmanan won back the seat for the DMK, defeating Nagenthran. After that defeat, Nagenthran left the AIADMK and joined the BJP, a move that redefined his political trajectory.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, now representing the BJP, he defeated the DMK’s Lakshmanan once again, reaffirming his personal influence over party loyalties. His successive victories across different party platforms have cemented his reputation as a strongman of Tirunelveli politics.