5th Tamil Nadu Assembly Last updated August 03, 2025
1971 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election
The fifth legislative assembly election of Tamil Nadu was held in March 1971. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was re-elected, after its first victory under the leadership of C N Annadurai in 1967. This was the first time M. Karunanidhi , contested as the leader of DMK party won the election, since he assumed Chief Ministership for the first time, after the death of C N Annadurai . Karunanidhi had emerged successfully in the leadership crisis with other party leaders M. G. Ramachandran , and Nedunchezhiyan , which ensued after the death of C. N. Annadurai. The main opposition party in the election was Indian National Congress (Organisation) led by K. Kamaraj , whereas the Indian National Congress (Indira) faction aligned with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. This was the last election that had only 2 major parties in Tamilnadu. After the election, MGR was slowly cornered out of DMK, and finally he formed AIADMK, which has since then been the close equal of DMK.
Background The opposition party, Indian National Congress was heavily weakened due to a split that occurred in 1969. This led to the formation of Indian National Congress (Organisation) under K. Kamaraj , which was the major opposition in this election, while the Indian National Congress , supported the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam . [ 1] Indira Gandhi continued as Prime Minister with the support of Communist parties and DMK which had 25 seats in the Lok Sabha. It was during this time, the long-awaited Salem steel mill was approved. The ruling Congress party decided to dissolve the Lok Sabha and conduct early elections and Karunanidhi also decided to dissolve the state assembly and face the elections in alliance with Indira's Congress one year before the end of his term. [ 2] [ 3]
Parties and alliances Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam formed a seven party alliance called Left and Democratic Front (Progressive Front). The front was led by the DMK and comprised Indian National Congress (Indira) , Communist Party of India (CPI), the Praja Socialist Party, the Forward Block, the Muslim League and M. P. Sivagnanam 's Tamil National Party. The Congress party dependent on DMK votes in the Lok Sabha for survival had no influence in the seating arrangements. The Indira Congress contested in 9 out of 39 parliamentary constituencies but not in legislative assembly constituencies. Indira Gandhi instructed the leader of the Tamil Nadu Congress, Subramaniam to accept the arrangement in a sign indicative of writing off Tamil Nadu as a Congress territory. [ 2]
The opposition front was a coalition of Kamaraj led Indian National Congress (Organisation) (Congress (O)), Rajaji's Swatantara Party, Samyukta Socialist Party, the Tamil Nadu Toilers' Party , the Republican Party and the Coimbatore District Agriculturist Association. [ 3] [ 4]
Voting and results Results Source : Election Commission of India [ 5]
Alliances Party Popular Vote Vote % Seats contested Seats won Change Progressive Front Seats: 205Seat Change: +26Popular Vote: 8,506,078 Popular Vote %: 54.30% Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 7,654,935 48.58% 203 184 Communist Party of India 364,803 2.32% 10 8 All India Forward Bloc 268,721 1.71% 9 7 Praja Socialist Party 147,985 0.94% 4 4 — Indian Union Muslim League 69,634 0.44% 2 2 Democratic Front Seats: 21 Seat Change: -50 Popular Vote: 6,016,530Popular Vote %: 38.18% Indian National Congress (Organisation) 5,513,894 34.99% 201 15 Swatantra Party 465,145 2.95% 19 6 Samyukta Socialist Party 37,491 0.24% 2 0 — OthersSeats: 8 Seat Change: Popular Vote: 1,234,193Popular Vote %: 7.52% Independents 965,379 6.13% 256 8 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 259,298 1.65% 37 0 Bharatiya Jana Sangh 9,516 0.06% 5 0 — Total 11 Political Parties 15,756,801 100% — 234 —
The council of ministers in M. Karunanidhi's cabinet (in 1971). [ 6]
List of elected members * Elected as Chief Minister of Madras State
Assembly Constituency Winner Party Runner-up Party Margin Acharapakkam V. Balasundaram DMK C. Ganesan NCO 26,359 Aduthurai K. Rajamanickam DMK A. Marimuthu NCO 1,963 Alangudy K. V. Subbiah DMK T. S. Thangavelu NCO 7,882 Alangulam V. Arunachalam DMK S. K. T. Ramachandran NCO 1,838 Ambasamudram S. Sanmugamuthu Thevar NCO R. V. Ananthakrishnan DMK 3,484 Ambur M. Panneerselvam DMK M. Adhimoolam NCO 11,488 Andhiyur E. M. Natarasan DMK K. S. Nanjappan NCO 7,815 Andimadam S. Sadasiva Padayachi DMK G. Thiyagarajan NCO 4,523 Andipatti N. V. Gurusamy Naidu SWA S. Paramasivam FBL 4,132 Arakkonam N. S. Balaraman DMK S. K. Subramanya Mudaly NCO 15,378 Aranthangi S. Ramanathan DMK Ramanathan Servaikarar NCO 12,033 Aravakurichi Addul Jabbar MUL S. Kadasamy Gounder SWA 15,305 Arcot N. Veerasami DMK N. R. Ethirajulu Naidu NCO 14,065 Ariyalur G. Sivaperumal DMK R. Sambasiva Moopanar NCO 25,580 Arni A. C. Narasimhan DMK M. Dharumarajan NCO 13,083 Aruppukottai Sowdi Sundara Bharathi FBL M. Veerasamy SWA 9,113 Athoor A. M. T. Nachiappan DMK T. P. S. Lakshmanan NCO 16,728 Attur V. Palanivel Gounder DMK C. Palanimuthu NCO 4,211 Avanashi T. O. Periasamy IND K. Thangavelu DMK 719 Basin Bridge M. R. Kannan DMK K. Ramadoss NCO 15,785 Bhavani A. M. Raja DMK P. Kuppusamy Mudaliar NCO 13,047 Bhavanisagar V. K. Ramarasan DMK M. Velusamy NCO 7,011 Bhuvanagiri M. A. Abusali IND R. Balakrishnan NCO 5,324 Bodinayakkanur M. Surulivel DMK A. Yellanna IND 16,377 Chengalpattu C. G. Viswanathan DMK S. T. Neelakantan NCO 23,659 Chengam C. Pandurangam DMK A. Arumugam NCO 15,555 Cheranmadevi D. S. A. Sivaprakasam SWA S. Ratnavelpandian DMK 193 Cheyyar K. Govindan DMK Perumalsamy Nayagar NCO 8,301 Chidambaram P. Ponchockalingam DMK R. Gopalakrishnan NCO 1,679 Coimbatore East K. Ranganathan DMK A. Devaraj NCO 3,512 Coimbatore West P. Gopal DMK S. S. Krishnaswamy SWA 9,450 Colachel A. Pauliah NCO S. Retnaraj DMK 7,549 Coonoor J. Karunainathan DMK N. Andy NCO 18,126 Cuddalore R. Govindaraj DMK P. R. Seenivasa Padayachi NCO 4,310 Cumbum K. P. Gopal NCO P. S. Chellathurai DMK 677 Dharapuram V. S. Palaniammal DMK V. N. Gopal NCO 19,350 Dharmapuri R. Chinnasamy DMK D. N. Adivel NCO 12,027 Dindigul O. N. Sundaram Pillai NCO Jama Hussain IND 1,391 Edappadi A. Arumugam DMK M. K. Ramakrishnan SWA 4,946 Egmore Arangannal DMK M. Kothandapani NCO 4,863 Erode M. Subramanian DMK K. P. Muthusamy NCO 17,451 Gandarvakottai Govindarasu Kalingarar DMK Durai Ramachandran NCO 13,786 Gangaikondan A. Karuppiah DMK S. Koil Pillai NCO 14,756 Gingee S. Sagadeva Gounder DMK V. Perumal Nainar NCO 12,772 Gobichettipalayam S. M. Palaniappan DMK K. M. Sundaramurthy SWA 14,561 Gudalur K. H. Bomman SWA K. Putta CPI 1,941 Gudiyatham E. K. Duraisami DMK D. A. Adimoolam NCO 16,374 Gummidipundi K. A. Vezhavendan DMK P. Obul Reddy NCO 12,480 Harbour A. M. Mohideen IND G. Umapathy NCO 486 Harur S. A. Chinnaraju DMK M. Ponnusamy NCO 8,880 Hosur B. Venkatasamy SWA T. Venkata Reddy IND 13,196 Ilayangudi V. Malaikannan DMK S. Ramakrishna Thevar NCO 21,413 Jayankondam A. Chinnasamy DMK S. Ramasamy NCO 12,281 Kadaladi C. Ramalingam DMK M. Alangaram SWA 17,658 Kadambathur A. Paranthaman DMK Era. Kulasekaran NCO 19,666 Kadavur Karuragiri Muthiah NCO P. Krishnasamy DMK 1,989 Kadayanallur A. R. Subbiah Mudaliar DMK S. M. Abdul Majid Sahib NCO 3,570 Kalapsapakkam S. Murugaiyan DMK M. Sundaraswamy NCO 12,933 Kallakurichi D. Kesavalu DMK S. Sivaraman NCO 4,139 Kancheepuram C. V. M. Annamalai DMK D. V. Natesa Mudaliar NCO 6,312 Kandamangalam M. Raman DMK P. P. Mathavan NCO 11,665 Kangayam Kovai Chezhiyan DMK K. G. Palanisamy Gounder IND 22,042 Kaniyambadi Thoppu Thiruvengadam DMK L. Balaraman NCO 9,788 Kanyakumari K. Rajah Pillai DMK B. Mahadevan Pillai NCO 4,558 Kapilamalai C. V. Velappan DMK P. Thyagarajan NCO 9,977 Karaikudi C. T. Chidambaram DMK S. P. R. Ramaswamy SWA 13,128 Kariapatti A. R. Perumal FBL M. Muthuvel Serval NCO 9,324 Karur Nallasamy DMK T. M. Nallaswamy NCO 10,657 Katpadi Durai Murugan DMK Dhandayuthapani NCO 16,568 Kattumannarkoil S. Perumal DMK T. M. Kuppusami NCO 3,296 Kaveripattinam V. C. Govindasamy DMK E. Pattabi Naidu NCO 19,155 Killiyur N. Dennis NCO C. Russel Raj DMK 14,032 Kinathukadavu M. Kannappan DMK S. T. Duraisamy IND 25,727 Kodavasal K. Periasamy Udayar DMK Kalingaraya Dakshinamoorthy NCO 7,726 Kottur A. K. Subbiah CPI T. Rajamanickam NCO 30,110 Kovilpatti S. Alagarsamy CPI L. Subba Naicker NCO 15,198 Krishnagiri C. Manniappan DMK T. G. Selvaraj NCO 12,974 Krishnarayapuram P. Soundarapandian DMK P. M. Thangavelraj NCO 7,157 Kulittalai M. Kandaswamy DMK P. E. Srinivasan Reddiar NCO 6,052 Kumbakonam N. Kasiraman NCO S. Padmanabhan DMK 2,619 Kunnathur M. Gopal DMK P. Appavoo NCO 22,638 Kurinjipadi N. Rajangam DMK M. Jayaraman NCO 1,526 Kuttalam S. Ganesan DMK K. K. Deen NCO 12,227 Lalgudi V. N. Muthamil Selvan DMK D. Rengasamy Udayar NCO 11,963 Madurai Central K. Thirupathy DMK P. Nedumaran NCO 3,210 Madurai East K. Ramakrishnan DMK L. K. T. Muthuram NCO 2,412 Madurai West K. T. K. Thangamani CPI P. Anandam NCO 9,146 Maduranthakam C. Arumugam DMK V. Gopal Reddiar NCO 19,049 Manamadurai T. Soniah DMK S. Sankaralingam NCO 10,179 Mangalore G. Jabamalai DMK R. Perumal NCO 11,498 Mannargudi K. Balakrishnan DMK T. S. Swaminatha Udayar NCO 7,128 Mayuram N. Kittappa DMK M. R. Krishnappa NCO 1,019 Melapalayam M. Kather Mohideen MUL C. Shanmugavel NCO 13,685 Melmalayanur R. R. Munusami DMK K. Gopal Gounder NCO 8,872 Melur North P. Malaichamy DMK M. Andi Ambalam NCO 127 Melur South O. P. Raman DMK C. Karuthanan NCO 16,876 Mettupalayam M. C. Thooyamani DMK Ramaswami IND 8,460 Mettur M. Surendran PSP Karuppanna Gounder NCO 11,118 Modakkurichi M. Chinnasami DMK M. Chenniappan SOP 13,677 Mudukulathur Kadher Batcha alias Vellaichind IND R. C. Subramaniam NCO 735 Mugaiyur A. G. Padmavathi DMK K. A. Ranganathan NCO 19,139 Musiri P. S. Muthuselvan DMK A. R. Murugaiah NCO 10,859 Mylapore T. N. Anandanayaki NCO M. P. Sivagnanam DMK 7703 Nagapattinam Rajamanickam DMK Ramanatha Thevar NCO 6,402 Nagercoil M. Moses SWA G. Christopher DMK 541 Namakkal Palanivelan DMK Kaliappan NCO 9,106 Nanguneri T. Ganapathy DMK S. T. Thavasikani NCO 4,236 Nannilam A. Devandiran DMK V. S. Arunachalam NCO 15,308 Natrampalli T. C. Thimmaraya Gounder DMK K. Shanmugasundaram NCO 6,421 Nellikuppam V. Krishnamurthi Gounder DMK K. G. Kandan NCO 5,820 Nilakkottai A. Muniyandi DMK A. S. Ponnammal NCO 1,043 Oddanchatram N. Nachimuthu Gounder DMK A. P. Palaniyappan NCO 13,191 Orathanad L. Ganesan DMK Dhandayudhapani NCO 22,986 Omalur V. Selladurai DMK C. Govindan NCO 10,758 Palani C. Palanisamy DMK R. Subramanian NCO 14,330 Palladam K. N. Kumarasamy PSP R. Sengaliappan NCO 13,806 Pollachi A. P. Shanmugasundara Gounder DMK A. Easwarasamy Gounder IND 18,258 Pongalur N. Palanisamy DMK A. Senapathi IND 18,431 Ottapidaram M. Muthiah FBL K. Manoharan SWA 9,710 Padmanabhapuram A. Swamidhas Nadar NCO G. C. Michael DMK 15,242 Palacode M. V. Karivengadam DMK B. K. Narasimhan NCO 3,377 Panamarathupatti Karipatti T. Ponnumalai DMK P. Chinnu NCO 8,978 Papanasam N. Ganapathy DMK V. Ramakrishnan NCO 9,613 Panruti S. Ramachandran DMK S. V. Vadivelu Padayachi NCO 8,985 Paramakudi T. K. Siraimeettan DMK K. V. Rakkan NCO 17,750 Park Town H. V. Hande SWA A. V. P. Asaithambi DMK 5,287 Pattukkottai A. R. Marimuthu PSP N. Nagarajan NCO 18,336 Pennagaram N. Manickam DMK P. K. C. Muthuswami NCO 3,007 Perambalur J. S. Raju DMK K. Periyannan NCO 15,708 Perambur Sathyavani Muthu DMK D. Sulochana NCO 12,023 Peravurani Chelliah IND M. Krishnamoorthy DMK 2,020 Periakulam Anbucheliyan DMK Chinnasamy Chettai NCO 9,595 Pernamallur P. Ettiappan DMK Boopalan NCO 17,603 Pernambattu N. Krishnan DMK P. Rajagopal NCO 14,139 Perundurai N. K. Palanisamy CPI K. Chinnasamy Gounder IND 8,782 Perur N. Marudachalam CPI K. P. Palanisami NCO 17,963 Polur T. P. Srinivasan DMK T. R. Natesa Gounder NCO 9,496 Ponneri p. Nagalingam DMK T. P. Elumalai NCO 18,133 Pudukkottai M. Sathiamoorthy NCO K. R. Subbiah CPI 1,287 Purasawalkam K. Anbazhagan DMK Bashyam Reddy NCO 12,166 Radhapuram V. Karthesan DMK K. P. Karuthiah NCO 2,189 Rajapalayam K. Suppu CPI K. R. Srirenga Raja NCO 664 Ramanathapuram M. S. K. Sathiyendan DMK R. Balagangadharan NCO 21,041 Ranipet K. A. Wahab IND A. G. Ranganatha Naicker NCO 5,335 Rasipuram R. Nainamalai DMK P. Ganapathy NCO 9,918 Rishivandiyam N. Dharmalingam DMK K. Mappan NCO 2,108 Saidapet M. Karunanidhi DMK N. Kamalingam NCO 12,511 Sankarapuram N. Natichiyappan DMK Durai. Muthusamy NCO 72 Sathankulam K. P. Kandasamy DMK T. Martin NCO 4,918 St. Thomas Mount M. G. Ramachandran DMK T. L. Raghupathy NCO 24,632 Salem - I K. Jayaraman DMK P. Thiagarajan NCO 3,395 Salem - II K. Rajaram DMK R. Ramakrishnan NCO 5,308 Sankarankoil S. Subbiah DMK M. Jame NCO 13,658 Sankari V. Muthur DMK P. T. Seerangan NCO 10,319 Sathyamangalam S. K. Subramaniam DMK P. G. Karuthiruman NCO 8,986 Sattur S. Alagu Thevar FBL R. Dorairaj Naicker SWA 8,394 Sedapatti V. Thavamani Thevar FBL M. K. Ramakrishnan SWA 4,946 Sembanarkoil T. V. Sampath DMK K. R. Sambandam NCO 14,490 Sendamangalam Chinna Velaiya Gounder DMK Vellaya Gounder NCO 13,055 Sholavandan P. S. Maniyan DMK R. Sundararajan Servai NCO 8,712 Sholinghur A. M. Ponnurangam NCO K. M. Natarajan DMK 7,155 Singanallur A. Subramaniam PSP P. L. Subbian NCO 15,040 Sirkazhi S. Vadivel CPI K. B. S. Mani NCO 6,310 Sivaganga S. Sethuraman DMK O. Subramanian NCO 17,666 Sivakasi K. Kalimuthu DMK N. Sundarraj Naicker SWA 14,368 Sriperumbudur D. Rajarathinam DMK Manali Ramakrishna Mudaliar NCO 14,416 Srirangam Jothi Venkatachalam NCO R. Kamatchiammal DMK 2,933 Srivaikuntam Adithanar DMK R. A. R. Annamalai NCO 9,605 Srivilliputhur K. Surusamy DMK S. P. Dharmaraj NCO 17,486 Talavasal Moo. Marimuthu DMK T. R. Sappan NCO 3,182 Taramangalam Paramasivam DMK Ramasamy Gounder NCO 12,693 Tenkasi Kathiravan alias Samshudeen DMK I. C. Iswaran NCO 7,960 Thandarambattu M. S. Radhakrishnan DMK K. Sahadeva Gounder NCO 11,391 Thanjavur S. Natarajan DMK A. Y. Arokiasamy Nadar NCO 7,865 Theni P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan DMK Ramasamy NCO 20,037 T. Nagar K. M. Subramaniam NCO D. V. Narayanasamy DMK 879 Thirumangalam M. C. A. Rethinasamy Thevar FBL N. S. V. Chithan NCO 8,920 Thirumayam A. Thiagarajan DMK P. R. Ramanathan NCO 14,277 Thirupparankundram C. Kaverimaniam DMK I. Pandy Thevar NCO 12,230 Thiruthuraipundi C. Manali Kandasami CPI G. Thazamanavan NCO 18,596 Thiruvadanai P. R. Shanmugham DMK K. R. Kariamanickam Ambalam SWA 6,960 Thiruvaiyaru G. Ilangovan DMK K. B. Palani NCO 7,326 Thiruvarambur Kamaichi DMK V. Swaminathan NCO 4,975 Thiruvarur M. Karunanidhi DMK V. Vedaiyan NCO 12,142 Thiruvattar J. James NCO J. Hemachandran CPM 21,782 Thondamuthur R. Manickavasakam DMK M. Nataraj IND 21,492 Thottiyam S. K. Vadivelu DMK K. M. Shanmughasundaram NCO 2,244 Thousand lights K. A. Mathiazhagan DMK N. M. Mani Varma NCO 11,559 Tindivanam G. Rajaram DMK K. Ramamurthy NCO 11,885 Tiruchendur Edmund DMK Ganesa Sundaram NCO 5,929 Tiruchengode S. Kandappan DMK V. Kumarasamy NCO 19,260 Tiruchy - I V. Krishnamurthy DMK A. S. G. Lourdusamy Pillai NCO 4,649 Tiruchy - II Anbil P. Dharmalingam DMK Subramanian NCO 9,298 Tirukkoilur A. S. Kumarasamy DMK A. Vadivel NCO 7,349 Tirunelveli P. Padmanabhan DMK Rajathi Kunchithapatham NCO 16,952 Tiruppattur (41) G. Ramasamy DMK Y. Shanmugam NCO 7,400 Tiruppattur (191) S. Madhavan DMK S. Sethuramalingam NCO 31,070 Tirupporur M. Munu Adhi DMK T. M. dhanapal NCO 15,237 Tiruppur S. Doraisamy DMK S. A. Khader IND 7,767 Tiruttani E. S. Thyagarajan DMK A. Eakambara Reddz NCO 16,498 Tiruvallur S. M. Dorairaj DMK V. S. Arunachalam NCO 18,737 Tiruvannamalai P. U. Shanmugham DMK D. Annamalai Pillai NCO 18,310 Tiruvottiyur M. V. Narayanaswamy DMK Venkatesalu Naidu NCO 16,096 Triplicane V. R. Nedunchezhiyan DMK K. Vinayakam NCO 1,039 Tuticorin R. Ramalingam DMK Naorojiammal NCO 9,557 Udagamandalam M. Devarajan DMK M. B. Nanjan SWA 11,239 Uddanapalle K. S. Kothandaramaiah IND N. Ramachandra Reddy NCO 470 Udumalpet S. J. Sadiq Pasha DMK T. Malayappa Gounder IND 19,482 Ulundurpet V. Subramaniam DMK N. Ponnambalam NCO 10,955 Uppiliyapuram T. P. Alagamuthu DMK R. Periasami NCO 6,807 Usilampatti P. K. Mookiah Thevar FBL S. Andi Thevar IND 32,383 Uthankarai K. R. Krishnan DMK M. Raman NCO 11,864 Uthiramerur E. M. rajagopal DMK C. Ramasamy NCO 28,566 Vadamadurai K. Nagarajan DMK S. Rajendran NCO 10,719 Valangiman N. Somasundaram DMK V. Thangavelu NCO 14,168 Valparai E. Ramaswamy DMK M. Kuppuswamy NCO 24,051 Vandavasi V. Rajagopal DMK D. Dasarathan NCO 17,987 Vaniyambadi M. A. Latheef IND R. C. Samanna Gounder NCO 8,817 Vanur N. Muthuvel DMK A. Venkatachalam NCO 14,815 Varahur K. Palanivelan DMK K. C. Periyasamy NCO 16,690 Vasudevanallur A. Velladurai DMK A. Gopa Thevar NCO 8,785 Vedaranyam M. Meenakshi Sundaram DMK P. C. Velayudhan NCO 24,309 Vedasandur P. Muthusamy DMK S. Nanjunda Rao NCO 13,739 Veerapandy S. Arumugam DMK T. V. Thirumalai NCO 22,920 Vellakoil M. Palanisamy DMK S. M. Ramasamy Gounder IND 25,836 Vellore Ma. Pa. Sarathy DMK A. K. Lalalajapathy NCO 6,567 Vilathikulam M. Rathinasabapathy DMK K. Subba Reddiar NCO 10,486 Vilavancode R. Ponnappan Nadar NCO G. Gnanaraj Christopher DMK 20,969 Villupuram M. Shanmugam DMK V. P. Sarangapani Gounder NCO 7,276 Viralimalai V. S. Lenchezhiyan DMK A. Karuppiah Udayar NCO 11,539 Virudhunagar P. Seenivasan DMK V. Seenivasaga Naidu SWA 1,577 Vridachalam M. Selvaraj DMK B. Thiyagarajan NCO 7,198 Washermanpet M. Vedachalam DMK Ananthan NCO 6,758 Yercaud V. Chinnusamy DMK K. Chinna Gounden NCO 10,378
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