DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi wins in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi constituency

TN Lok Sabha Elections 2024

Kanimozhi Karunanidhi who was contesting from Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi constituency has won with over 3,00,00 lakh votes, defeating opponents S.D.R Vijayaseelan of NDA and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (AIADMK) Sivasami Velumani, as per data from Election Commission website.

The win here would secure Kanimozhi a second term in the constituency and also fortify the DMK’s stronghold under CM Stalin’s leadership.

In 2019, Kanimozhi contested against BJP’s Tamilisai Soundararajan and won the Lok Sabha election by a margin of 3.47 lakh votes. She had served as a Rajya Sabha member for two terms from 2007.
The constituency comprises six assembly segments: Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Vilathikulam, Kovilpatti, Srivaikundam, and Ottapidaram (reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate). This constituency holds significant political importance in the region.
Other candidates in the region include Rovina Rooth Jen from Naam Tamilar Katchi.

Kanimozhi had worked as the chairperson of the Parliament Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. In addition to this, she had been the party’s women’s wing secretary.The Thoothukudi Factor 

Traditionally, the Dravidian parties, primarily the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), have been the dominant forces in Thoothukudi's electoral landscape.

Out of the six assembly segments, DMK and allies won five in the 2021 state elections, while AIADMK managed to win the Kovilpatti seat.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi from the DMK secured a sweeping victory, defeating then-state BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan by a substantial margin of 3,47,209 votes. Kanimozhi contested as part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), in alliance with the Congress.

The constituency presently faces glaring issues like the apprehension of fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities, environmental concerns over the copper smelter plant, and politics over the handling of recent floods.

While party campaigns were loud about solving these prominent issues, citizens hope for immediate action from the elected party.