Tamil Nadu Assembly poll: Congress names 27 candidates; Melur nominee yet to be announced

The Congress on Friday, April 3, 2026, finally announced its candidate list for 27 of the 28 Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies allotted to it by the DMK for the upcoming elections.

The list was announced after long discussions in New Delhi. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai and Congress Legislative Assembly party leader S. Rajeshkumar retained their seats in Sriperumbudhur and Killiyoor respectively. New candidate GKM Tamil Kumaran, son of former Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) chief GK Mani, was given the Pennagaram seat despite strong opposition from some senior leaders.

The party is yet to announce its Melur candidate, given that influential Congress leaders are hoping to field one of their supporters from the constituency.

Sitting MLA Durai Chandrasekar will contest again from Ponneri (SC) constituency. In the Congress, Velachery and Sholinghar MLAs, JMH Aassan Maulana and AM Munirathinam will also contest from their respective seats.

Former Krishnagiri MP A. Chella Kumar has contested from Krishnagiri constituency and Gopinath Palaniyappan will contest from Erode East constituency, which was earlier held by late EVKS Elangovan and late Thirumagan EV Raa. Thirumagan.

B. Ramachandran is contesting from Udhagamandalam and Dr. Tharagai Cuthbert competes in Colachel. TT Praveen will be pitted against former Congress MLA S. Vijayadarini, who is now with the BJP, in Vilavancode.

While V. Shriniti Naidu and KP Surya Prakash will contest from Singanallur and Kavundampalayam constituencies respectively, AS Chandrasekaran will also contest from Cuddalore constituency.

S. Mangudi holds the Karaikudi constituency, where a four-cornered contest is expected including Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AMMK) Therboki Pandian and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) Prabhu.

T. Saravana Kumar from Usilampatti will contest and Ganesan Ashokan has been given the Sivakasi ticket. Rama Karumanickam retained his Tiruvadanai seat and S. Oorvashi Amirtharaj retained his Srivaikuntam segment. Ruby Manoharan will once again compete from Nanguneri.

While Sangai Ganeshan was elected from Sankarankovil (SC) constituency, M. Vichu Lenin Prasath was elected from Thuraiyur (SC), SK Arthanari was elected from Attur (SC) and R. Kuppu was elected from Samy Uthangarai (SC). T. Rama Chandhiran was fielded from Aranthangi and VP Durai from Ambasamudram. Jamal Yunus Muhammad was given Mayiladuthurai ticket.