Nagapattinam is a Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu. Its Tamil Nadu Parliamentary Constituency number is 29 of 39. The seat is reserved for scheduled castes. The constituency is noted for being an historically communist stronghold, having elected Communist Party of India parliamentary representative seven times.
Location
The constituency is at the tail end of the Cauvery delta. The area is prone to both floods and droughts. The Cauvery water crisis, affecting agriculture in the area, remains high on the agenda in Nagapattinam Lok Sabha constituency. Apart from farming, there is an oil refinery and some minor industrial units.
Demography and dynamics
Scheduled Castes constitute about 32.95% of the population in the Nagapattinam Lok Sabha constituency.
Gender demographic of Erode East as of 20.01.2021, taken during the elections in 2021.
Assembly segments
The Nagapattinam Lok Sabha constituency is composed of six state assembly constituencies:
Before 2009:
1.Nannilam (SC)
2.Thiruvarur (SC)
3.Nagapattinam
4.Vedharanyam
5.Thiruthuraipoondi (SC)
6.Mannarkudi
Members of Parliament
Due to the death of S.G. Murugaiyan, a by-election was held.
Election results
General Elections 2019
General Elections 2014
General Elections 2009
General Elections 2004
General Elections 1999
General Elections 1998
General Elections 1996
General Elections 1991
General Elections 1989
General Elections 1984
General Elections 1980
General Elections 1977
General Elections 1971
General Elections 1967
General Elections 1962
General Elections 1957
Detailed election history
Double-seat constituency
Nagapattinam Lok Sabha constituency, then in the Madras State, was constituted for the 1957 Indian general election. In the 1957 election Nagapattinam elected two parliamentarians, one general seat and one seat reserved for Scheduled Castes. CPI fielded two prominent leaders, P. Ramamurthi and A.K. Subbiah, in Nagapattinam. Nevertheless, both seats were won by Indian National Congress candidates. For the Scheduled Caste seat M. Ayyakkannu of Congress obtained 216,890 votes (51.25%), A.K. Subbiah 151,704 votes (35.85%) and independent candidate V. Veeraswamy 54,597 votes (12.90%). For the general seat K.R. Sambandam of Congress obtained 252,275 votes (49.18%), P. Ramamurthi of CPI 124,205 votes (24.21%), independent candidate K. Manoharam 78,983 votes (15.40%) and independent candidate S.M.R. Arumugan Pillai 57,507 (11.21%).
1960s
In the 1962 Indian general election Congress fielded Gopalsamy Thenkondar as its candidate in Nagapattinam. Thenkondar won the seat, obtaining 45.98% of the vote, defeating C. Kandasamy Thevar of CPI (36.74%), A.M. Mytheen Sayabu of the Muslim League (16.07%) and independent candidate Mohamed Cassim Rowther (1.21%).
After the 1964 split in the CPI, the break-away Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged as the dominant communist faction in Nagapattinam taluk whilst CPI remained the larger party in the other taluks in the area. In 1964 CPI(M) formed the Tamil Nadu Tillers Association in Nagapattinam.
Congress had support from middle-class sectors and middle-caste farmers. The Swatantra Party had a presence in the area, based amongst Brahmin mirasdhars.
In the 1967 Indian general election three candidates contested the Nagapattinam seat. CPI(M) had fielded the prominent trade union leader V.P. Sinthan. CPI fielded M. Kathamuthu and Congress fielded V. Sambasivam. Together the CPI and CPI(M) candidates accounted for the majority of the votes, but the Congress candidate won. CPI argued that it had withdrawn its candidate in Coimbatore but that CPI(M) had not responded well to that gesture, and thus CPI insisted on fielding a candidate of its own in Nagapattinam. Notably Nagapattinam recorded the highest voter turnout nationwide with 84.69% in the 1967 election.
1970s
In the 1971 Indian general election three candidates contested the Nagapattinam seat: the incumbent V. Sambasivan (now representing Congress(O)), M. Kathamuthu (CPI) and G. Bharatimohan (CPI(M)). M. Kathamuthu won the seat with 54.95% of the votes, with V. Sambasivan and G. Bharatimohan obtaining 33% and 12.05% respectively.