Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is more than just a legislative body; it's a living chronicle of democratic evolution in one of India's most vibrant states. From its humble beginnings as a colonial advisory council to its current status as a powerful unicameral legislature, its journey reflects the profound political and geographical transformations of the region. Delve into the fascinating story of how this assembly shaped and was shaped by the destiny of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly evolved from a non-representative colonial council into a fully democratic unicameral body. Its journey mirrors the significant administrative and geographical shifts that transformed the Madras Presidency into modern Tamil Nadu. The physical location of the assembly has frequently changed, reflecting its growth and the shifting political landscape of the state.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly evolved from a non-representative colonial council into a fully democratic unicameral body.
Its journey mirrors the significant administrative and geographical shifts that transformed the Madras Presidency into modern Tamil Nadu.
The physical location of the assembly has frequently changed, reflecting its growth and the shifting political landscape of the state.

From Presidency to State: The Assembly's Evolution

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly as we know it today began its life under a different name and form. It emerged from the Madras Presidency, transitioning first to the Madras State after India became a Republic in 1950. It wasn't until 1969 that it officially became the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, reflecting the state's new identity.

Initially, the legislature was bicameral, meaning it had two chambers: an Assembly and a Legislative Council. However, this structure didn't last forever. In 1986, the Legislative Council was abolished, making the Assembly the sole legislative body — a unicameral system.

Early Seeds of Representation

The earliest form of legislature in Madras was the Madras Legislative Council, established by the British in 1861. Picture it as a non-representative advisory body, a far cry from the democratic institution it would become. Its initial role was merely to assist the colonial administration.

But the winds of change were blowing. In 1892, elected members were introduced to the Council for the first time, signaling a slow shift towards representation. Further reforms like the Indian Councils Act of 1909, known as the 'Minto-Morley Reforms,' formally introduced indirect election for some members.

A major leap came with the Government of India Act 1919, which ushered in direct elections and a system called 'diarchy' in the provinces. Between 1920 and 1937, this Legislative Council functioned as a unicameral legislature for the Madras Presidency, slowly gaining more democratic character.

The Birth of a Bicameral Legislature

The Government of India Act 1935 marked another significant milestone. It abolished diarchy and established a bicameral legislature in Madras Province, consisting of a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. The Assembly, as the lower house, was designed to have 215 members.

These 215 seats were thoughtfully allocated, ensuring representation for various communities and interests within the diverse Madras Presidency. It was a complex system, aiming to reflect the social fabric of the time.

Reservation	Number of members
Unreserved	116
Scheduled Castes	30
Muslims	28
Christians	8
Women	8
Landholders	6
Commerce and Industry	6
Labour and Trade Unions	6
Europeans	3
Anglo-Indians	2
University	1
Tribal	1
Total	215

The presiding officer of this newly formed Assembly was given the crucial role of the Speaker, a position that continues to be central to the legislative process today.

First Elections and Wartime Interruption

The first legislative assembly election in the Presidency took place in February 1937, with the Indian National Congress securing a clear majority by winning 159 out of 215 seats. This victory brought C. Rajagopalachari to power as the first elected Chief Minister under the provincial autonomy system.

However, this first assembly's term was cut short. In October 1939, the Congress cabinet resigned in protest against India's participation in World War II without their consent. For seven long years, Madras was under direct rule by the Governor, and no elections were held until 1946.

After a political compromise, the next elections were held in 1946, and the Congress once again formed the government. Then, on August 15, 1947, India gained independence, and with the new Indian Constitution coming into effect in 1950, Madras Presidency officially became the Madras State.

Post-Independence and State Reorganization

In the newly formed Republic of India, the Madras State Legislative Assembly continued as the lower house of a bicameral legislature. A landmark moment arrived in January 1952 with the first election based on universal adult suffrage—a true testament to democratic principles where every adult citizen had a vote.

This new assembly was designed for 375 members, elected from 309 constituencies. Interestingly, 66 of these were 'two-member constituencies' — a system where voters elected two representatives, often with one seat reserved for Scheduled Caste or Tribe candidates. This unique system was later abolished in 1961.

The political map of India was rapidly redrawn in the 1950s, profoundly impacting the Madras Assembly. In 1953, the Telugu-speaking areas formed the separate Andhra State, and parts of Karnataka merged with Mysore State, immediately reducing the Assembly's strength to 231 members.

The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 further reshaped the state. Constituencies from the Malabar District merged with Kerala, further shrinking the Assembly to 190 members. Conversely, Tamil-speaking areas from Kerala, like Kanyakumari, were added to Madras State, and the Assembly's strength was then adjusted to 205 members.

Over the next decade, minor boundary adjustments subtly changed the numbers, but a significant increase came in 1965 when the assembly's elected strength was set to 234. Adding one nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community, the total stood at 235 — a figure that has remained constant ever since.

And then, in 1969, a pivotal moment arrived: Madras State was officially renamed Tamil Nadu. Consequently, its legislative body became the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, solidifying its modern identity. The abolition of the Legislative Council in 1986 confirmed its unicameral status, simplifying its structure.

The assembly's history also includes instances where it faced dismissal by the Central Government under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, a rarely invoked but powerful measure. Four assemblies have experienced such an intervention, underscoring the dynamic nature of federal relations in India.

The Current Assembly

The present, Sixteenth Legislative Assembly was constituted on May 3, 2021, following the 2021 assembly elections. These elections saw the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led front secure a victory and form the government, with the next elections scheduled for 2026.

A Shifting Home: The Assembly's Residences

Much like the state it represents, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has had a varied architectural history, residing in several iconic locations over the decades. Its most enduring home has been the historic Fort St. George in Chennai, a site steeped in colonial and post-colonial governance.

However, the assembly's growth often necessitated moves. In the 1930s, for instance, it briefly convened at the grand Senate House of the University of Madras and the historic Banqueting Hall, now known as Rajaji Hall, as its membership expanded and needs changed.

In 1952, with the assembly's strength swelling to 375 members, the existing chambers within Fort St. George proved too small. It temporarily moved to the Kalaivanar Arangam in the government estate complex, a new building designed to accommodate its growing numbers. But after the state reorganization reduced its size, it returned to its familiar home in Fort St. George in 1956.

Attempts were made in the 21st century to construct a dedicated, modern assembly complex. A new building was indeed completed at the Omandurar Government Estate in 2010. However, after a change in government in 2011, the assembly controversially moved back to its traditional seat in Fort St. George, where it largely remains today, a testament to its deep roots.

Inside the assembly chamber, the legacy of its past is honored. Busts of figures like P. Rajagopalachari and L. D. Swamikannu Pillai, former presidents of the Madras Legislative Council, grace the lobby, reminding members of the long line of leaders who preceded them.

Article

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

The present state of Tamil Nadu is a residuary part of the erstwhile Madras Presidency and was formerly known as Madras State. The first legislature of any sort for the Presidency was the Madras Legislative Council, which was set up as a non-representative advisory body in 1861. In 1919, direct elections were introduced with the introduction of diarchy under the Government of India Act 1919. Between 1920 and 1937, the Legislative Council was a unicameral legislature for the Madras Presidency. The Government of India Act 1935 abolished diarchy and created a bicameral legislature in the Madras Presidency. The Legislative Assembly became the Lower House of the Presidency.

After the Republic of India was established in 1950, the Madras Presidency became the Madras State, and the bicameral setup continued. The Madras State's assembly strength was 375, and the first assembly was constituted in 1952. The current state was formed in 1956 after the reorganisation of states, and the strength of the assembly was reduced to 206. Its strength was increased to the present 234 in 1965. Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969, and subsequently, the assembly came to be called the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council was abolished in 1986, making the legislature a unicameral body and the assembly its sole chamber.

The present Sixteenth Legislative Assembly was constituted on 3 May 2021. It was constituted after the 2021 assembly election, which resulted in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led front winning and forming the government. The next election will take place in 2026.

History

Origin

The first legislature of any kind to be established in Madras was the Madras Legislative Council in 1861. First established as a non-representative advisory body, it saw the introduction of elected members in 1892. The Indian Councils Act 1909 (popularly called the "Minto-Morley Reforms") officially introduced indirect election of members to the Council. In 1919, direct elections were introduced with the introduction of diarchy under the Government of India Act 1919. Between 1920 and 1937, the Legislative Council was a unicameral legislature for the Madras Presidency. The Government of India Act 1935 abolished diarchy and created a bicameral legislature in Madras province. The Legislature consisted of the Governor and two legislative bodies: a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. The Assembly was the lower house and consisted of 215 members, who were further classified into general members and reserved members representing special communities and interests:

<table><thead><tr><th>Reservation</th><th>Number of members</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Unreserved</td><td>116</td></tr><tr><td>Scheduled Castes</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td>Muslims</td><td>28</td></tr><tr><td>Christians</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Women</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Landholders</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Commerce and Industry</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Labour and Trade Unions</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Europeans</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Anglo-Indians</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>University</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Tribal</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>215</td></tr></tbody></table>

The presiding officer of the Assembly was called the Speaker of the Assembly.

Madras Presidency

First Assembly of the Madras Presidency meeting in the Senate House, University of Madras (1937)

The first legislative assembly election in the presidency was held in February 1937. The Indian National Congress obtained a majority by winning 159 of 215 seats. C. Rajagopalachari became the first elected chief minister of the Presidency under the provincial autonomy system guaranteed by the Government of India Act 1935. The first assembly was constituted in July 1937. Bulusu Sambamurti and A. Rukmani Lakshmipathi were elected as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

The first assembly lasted its term until February 1943, but the Congress cabinet resigned in October 1939, protesting India's participation in World War II. From 1939 to 1946, Madras was under the direct rule of the governor and no elections were held in 1943 when the assembly's term expired. Next elections were held only in (/wiki/1946MadrasPresidencylegislativeassemblyelection), when a political compromise was reached between the Congress and viceroy Lord Wavell. The second assembly of the presidency was constituted in April 1946 and J. Shivashanmugam Pillai was elected as the speaker. The Congress won an absolute majority in the elections and again formed the Government. On 15 August 1947, India became independent and the new Indian Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950. Madras Presidency became Madras State and the existing assembly and government were retained till new elections could be held in 1951.

Republic of India

In the Republic of India, the Madras State Legislative Assembly continued to be the lower house in a bicameral legislature. The first election to the assembly on the basis of universal adult suffrage was held in January 1952. According to the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies (Madras) Order, 1951, made by the President under sections 6 and 9 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the assembly's strength was 375 members elected from 309 constituencies. Out of the 309 constituencies in the undivided Madras State, 66 were two member constituencies, 62 of which had one seat reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates and 4 for Scheduled Tribe candidates. The two member constituencies were established in accordance to Article 332 of the Indian Constitution. The voting method and the plurality electoral formula were defined in The Representation of People Act, 1950. These constituencies were larger in size and had greater number of voters (more than 1,00,000) when compared to general constituencies. Multiple members were elected only in the 1952 and 1957 elections as double member representation was abolished in 1961 by the enactment of Two-Member Constituencies Abolition Act (1961). Of the 375 seats, 143 were from what later became Andhra state, 29 were from Malabar, 11 from South Canara (part of present-day Karnataka) and the remaining 190 belonged to Tamil Nadu.

On 1 October 1953, a separate Andhra State consisting of the Telugu-speaking areas of the composite Madras State was formed and the Kannada-speaking area of Bellary District was merged with the then Mysore State. This reduced the strength of the Legislative Assembly to 231. On 1 November 1956, the States Reorganisation Act took effect and consequently the constituencies in the erstwhile Malabar District were merged with the Kerala State. This further reduced the strength to 190. The Tamil-speaking area of Kerala (present day Kanyakumari district) and Sengottai taluk were added to Madras State. According to the new Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order 1956, made by the Delimitation Commission of India under the provisions of the State Reorganisation Act of 1956, the strength of the assembly was increased to 205.

The 1957 elections were conducted for these 205 seats. In 1959, as result of The Andhra Pradesh and Madras (Alteration of Boundaries) Act 1959, one member from the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly was allotted to Madras increasing its Legislative Assembly strength to 206. The 1962 elections were conducted for these 206 seats. In 1965, the elected strength of the assembly was increased to 234 by the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1965. In addition to the 234, the assembly also has one nominated member representing the Anglo-Indian community. From 1965, the number of members has remained constant. In 1969, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu and subsequently the assembly came to be known as the "Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly". The Legislative Council was abolished with effect from 1 November 1986 through an Act of Parliament titled as The Tamil Nadu Legislative Council (Abolition) Act, 1986. With the abolition of the council, the legislature became a unicameral body and remained so for the next 24 years. Of the fourteen assemblies that have been constituted so far, four (the sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth) have been dismissed by the Central Government using Article 356 of the Indian Constitution. This State Assembly is unique because, since 1996, the actual leader of the official opposition party, though he or she is an official member of the house, has chosen mostly to sign the attendance register outside but not attend the house proceedings. M. Karunanidhi, J. Jayalalithaa, and Vijayakant conducted themselves in this manner, unless an extremely important situation happened. Once M. K. Stalin became the leader of the opposition in 2016, the leader of the opposition always came and participated fully in the House. Following the 2021 elections, the leader of the opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, also attended the house.

Location

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

Fort St. George is the current home of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

Senate House at University of Madras, where the assembly met in the 1930s

Rajaji Hall which briefly hosted the assembly in the late 1930s

The Legislative Assembly is seated at the Fort St. George, Chennai. Fort St. George has historically been the seat of the Government of Tamil Nadu since colonial times. During 1921–37, the precursor to the assembly – Madras Legislative Council, met at the council chambers within the fort. Between 14 July 1937 – 21 December 1938, the assembly met at the Senate House of the University of Madras and between 27 January 1938 – 26 October 1939 in the Banqueting Hall (later renamed as Rajaji Hall) in the Government Estate complex at Mount Road. During 1946–52, it moved back to the Fort St. George. In 1952, the strength of the assembly rose to 375, after the constitution of the first assembly, and it was briefly moved into temporary premises at the government estate complex. This move was made in March 1952, as the existing assembly building only had a seating capacity of 260. Then on 3 May 1952, it moved into the newly constructed assembly building in the same complex. The assembly functioned from the new building (later renamed as "Kalaivanar Arangam") during 1952–56. However, with the reorganisation of states and formation of Andhra, the strength came down to 190 and the assembly moved back to Fort St. George in 1956. From December 1956 till January 2010, the Fort remained the home to the assembly.

Governor's Address at Tamil Nadu Assembly

In 2004, during the 12th assembly, the AIADMK Government under J. Jayalalithaa made unsuccessful attempts to shift the assembly, first to the location of Queen Mary's College and later to the Anna University campus, Guindy. Both attempts were withdrawn after public opposition. During the 13th Assembly, the DMK government led by M. Karunanidhi proposed a new plan to shift the assembly and the government secretariat to a new building in the Omandurar Government Estate. In 2007, the German architectural firm GMP International won the design competition to design and construct the new assembly complex. Construction began in 2008 and was completed in 2010. The new assembly building was opened and the assembly started functioning in it from March 2010. After AIADMK's victory in the 2011 elections, the assembly shifted back to Fort St. George.

List of historical locations where the Tamil Nadu Legislature has been housed:

<table><thead><tr><th>Duration</th><th>Location</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>11 July 1921 – 13 July 1937</td><td>Council Chamber, Fort St. George, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>14 July 1937 – 21 December 1937</td><td>Beveridge Hall, Senate House, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>27 January 1938 – 26 October 1939</td><td>Multipurpose Hall, Rajaji Hall, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>24 May 1946 – 27 March 1952</td><td>Council Chamber, Fort St. George, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>3 May 1952 – 27 December 1956</td><td>Multipurpose Hall, Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>29 April 1957 – 30 March 1959</td><td>Assembly Chamber, Fort St. George, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>20 April 1959 – 30 April 1959</td><td>Multipurpose Hall, Arranmore Palace, Udhagamandalam</td></tr><tr><td>31 August 1959 – 11 January 2010</td><td>Assembly Chamber, Fort St. George, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>19 March 2010 – 10 February 2011</td><td>Assembly Chamber, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly-Secretariat Complex, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>23 May 2011 – 13 September 2020</td><td>Assembly Chamber, Fort St. George, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>14 September 2020 – 13 September 2021</td><td>Multipurpose Hall, Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>5 January 2022 – present</td><td>Assembly Chamber, Fort St. George, Chennai</td></tr></tbody></table>

List of the assemblies

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

<table><thead><tr><th>Assembly (Election)</th><th>Ruling Party</th><th>Chief Minister</th><th>Deputy Chief Minister</th><th>Speaker</th><th>Deputy Speaker</th><th>Leader of the House</th><th>Leader of the Opposition</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1st (1952)</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td><td>C. Rajagopalachari K. Kamaraj</td><td>Vacant</td><td>J. Shivashanmugam Pillai N. Gopala Menon</td><td>B. Baktavatsalu Naidu</td><td>C. Subramaniam</td><td>T. Nagi Reddy P. Ramamurthi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2nd (1957)</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td>K. Kamaraj</td><td>Vacant</td><td>U. Krishna Rao</td><td>B. Baktavatsalu Naidu</td><td>C. Subramaniam</td><td>V. K. Ramaswami</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3rd (1962)</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td>K. Kamaraj M. Bhakthavatsalam</td><td>Vacant</td><td>S. Chellapandian</td><td>K. Parthasarathi</td><td>M. Bhakthavatsalam</td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4th (1967)</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>C. N. Annadurai V. R. Nedunchezhiyan M. Karunanidhi</td><td>Vacant</td><td>S. P. Adithanar Pulavar K. Govindan</td><td>Pulavar K. Govindan G. R. Edmund</td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan M. Karunanidhi V. R. Nedunchezhiyan</td><td>P. G. Karuthiruman</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5th (1971)</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td>M. Karunanidhi</td><td>Vacant</td><td>K. A. Mathiazhagan Pulavar K. Govindan</td><td>P. Seenivasan N. Ganapathy</td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan</td><td>Vacant</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6th (1977)</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>M. G. Ramachandran</td><td>Vacant</td><td>Munu Adhi</td><td>Su. Thirunavukkarasar</td><td>Nanjil K. Manoharan</td><td>M. Karunanidhi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7th (1980)</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td>M. G. Ramachandran</td><td>Vacant</td><td>K. Rajaram</td><td>P. H. Pandian</td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan</td><td>M. Karunanidhi</td></tr><tr><td>K. S. G. Haja Shareef</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8th (1984)</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td>M. G. Ramachandran V. R. Nedunchezhiyan V. N. Janaki Ramachandran</td><td>Vacant</td><td>P. H. Pandian</td><td>V. P. Balasubramanian</td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan R. M. Veerappan</td><td>O. Subramanian</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9th (1989)</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>M. Karunanidhi</td><td>Vacant</td><td>M. Tamilkudimagan</td><td>V. P. Duraisamy</td><td>K. Anbazhagan</td><td>J. Jayalalithaa</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>S. R. Eradha</td></tr><tr><td>G. K. Moopanar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10th (1991)</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>J. Jayalalithaa</td><td>Vacant</td><td>Sedapatti R. Muthiah</td><td>K. Ponnusamy S. Gandhirajan</td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan</td><td>S. R. Balasubramoniyan</td></tr><tr><td>11th (1996)</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>M. Karunanidhi</td><td>Vacant</td><td>P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan</td><td>Parithi Ilamvazhuthi</td><td>K. Anbazhagan</td><td>S. Balakrishnan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>12th (2001)</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>J. Jayalalithaa O. Panneerselvam J. Jayalalithaa</td><td>Vacant</td><td>K. Kalimuthu</td><td>A. Arunachalam</td><td>C. Ponnaiyan</td><td>K. Anbazhagan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>13th (2006)</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>M. Karunanidhi</td><td>M. K. Stalin</td><td>R. Avudaiappan</td><td>V. P. Duraisamy</td><td>K. Anbazhagan</td><td>O. Panneerselvam J. Jayalalithaa</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>14th (2011)</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>J. Jayalalithaa O. Panneerselvam J. Jayalalithaa</td><td>Vacant</td><td>D. Jayakumar P. Dhanapal</td><td>P. Dhanapal Pollachi V. Jayaraman</td><td>O. Panneerselvam Natham R. Viswanathan O. Panneerselvam</td><td>Vijayakant</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vacant</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>15th (2016)</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td>J. Jayalalithaa O. Panneerselvam Edappadi K. Palaniswami</td><td>O. Panneerselvam</td><td>P. Dhanapal</td><td>Pollachi V. Jayaraman</td><td>O. Panneerselvam K. A. Sengottaiyan O. Panneerselvam</td><td>M. K. Stalin</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>16th (2021)</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td><td>M. K. Stalin</td><td>Udhayanidhi Stalin</td><td>M. Appavu</td><td>K. Pitchandi</td><td>Duraimurugan</td><td>Edappadi K. Palaniswami</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

In the 1952 election, no party achieved a majority in the assembly, so C. Rajagopalachari became the first and only non-elected chief minister. In the 1967 election, C. N. Annadurai was elected to the Lok Sabha and not to the assembly. He resigned as a member of parliament and was elected to the state legislative council to become chief minister.

Members of the Legislative Assembly

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

<table><thead><tr><th>District</th><th>No.</th><th>Constituency</th><th>Name</th><th>Party</th><th>Alliance</th><th>Remarks</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Tiruvallur</td><td>1</td><td>Gummidipoondi</td><td>T. J. Govindrajan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Ponneri (SC)</td><td>Durai Chandrasekar</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Tiruttani</td><td>S. Chandran</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Thiruvallur</td><td>V. G. Raajendran</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Poonamallee (SC)</td><td>A. Krishnaswamy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Avadi</td><td>S. M. Nasar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chennai</td><td>7</td><td>Maduravoyal</td><td>K. Ganapathy</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Ambattur</td><td>Joseph Samuel</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Madavaram</td><td>S. Sudharsanam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Thiruvottiyur</td><td>K. P. Shankar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar</td><td>J. J. Ebenezer</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Perambur</td><td>R. D. Shekar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Kolathur</td><td>M. K. Stalin</td><td>Chief Minister</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Villivakkam</td><td>A. Vetriazhagan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar (SC)</td><td>P. Sivakumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Egmore (SC)</td><td>I. Paranthamen</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Royapuram</td><td>Idream R. Murthy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>Harbour</td><td>P. K. Sekar Babu</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni</td><td>Udhayanidhi Stalin</td><td>Deputy Chief Minister</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Thousand Lights</td><td>Dr. Ezhilan Naganathan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>Anna Nagar</td><td>M. K. Mohan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>Virugampakkam</td><td>A. M. V. Prabhakara Raja</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Saidapet</td><td>Ma. Subramanian</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Thiyagaraya Nagar</td><td>J. Karunanithi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Mylapore</td><td>Dha. Velu</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Velachery</td><td>J. M. H. Aassan Maulaana</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Shozhinganallur</td><td>S. Aravind Ramesh</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Alandur</td><td>T. M. Anbarasan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kanchipuram</td><td>29</td><td>Sriperumbudur (SC)</td><td>K. Selvaperunthagai</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chengalpattu</td><td>30</td><td>Pallavaram</td><td>I. Karunanithi</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>31</td><td>Tambaram</td><td>S. R. Raja</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>32</td><td>Chengalpattu</td><td>M. Varalakshmi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>33</td><td>Thiruporur</td><td>S. S. Balaji</td><td></td><td>VCK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>34</td><td>Cheyyur (SC)</td><td>Panaiyur M. Babu</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>35</td><td>Maduranthakam (SC)</td><td>Maragatham Kumaravel</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kanchipuram</td><td>36</td><td>Uthiramerur</td><td>K. Sundar</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>37</td><td>Kancheepuram</td><td>C. V. M. P. Ezhilarasan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ranipet</td><td>38</td><td>Arakkonam (SC)</td><td>S. Ravi</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>39</td><td>Sholingur</td><td>A. M. Munirathinam</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vellore</td><td>40</td><td>Katpadi</td><td>Durai Murugan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td>Leader of the House</td></tr><tr><td>Ranipet</td><td>41</td><td>Ranipet</td><td>R. Gandhi</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>42</td><td>Arcot</td><td>J. L. Eswarappan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vellore</td><td>43</td><td>Vellore</td><td>P. Karthikeyan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>44</td><td>Anaikattu</td><td>A. P. Nandakumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>45</td><td>Kilvaithinankuppam (SC)</td><td>M. Jagan Moorthy</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>46</td><td>Gudiyattam (SC)</td><td>V. Amulu</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tirupathur</td><td>47</td><td>Vaniyambadi</td><td>G. Sendhil Kumar</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>48</td><td>Ambur</td><td>A. C. Vilwanathan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>49</td><td>Jolarpet</td><td>K. Devaraji</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>50</td><td>Tiruppattur (Vellore)</td><td>A. Nallathambi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Krishnagiri</td><td>51</td><td>Uthangarai (SC)</td><td>T. M. Tamilselvam</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>52</td><td>Bargur</td><td>D. Mathiazhagan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>53</td><td>Krishnagiri</td><td>K. Ashok Kumar</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>54</td><td>Veppanahalli</td><td>K. P. Munusamy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>55</td><td>Hosur</td><td>Y. Prakaash</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>56</td><td>Thalli</td><td>T. Ramachandran</td><td></td><td>CPI</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dharmapuri</td><td>57</td><td>Palacode</td><td>K. P. Anbalagan</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>58</td><td>Pennagaram</td><td>G. K. Mani</td><td></td><td>PMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>PMK(R)</td><td></td><td>None</td><td>Aligned with S. Ramadoss-led PMK in 2025</td></tr><tr><td>59</td><td>Dharmapuri</td><td>S. P. Venkateshwaran</td><td></td><td>PMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>60</td><td>Pappireddippatti</td><td>A. Govindasamy</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>61</td><td>Harur (SC)</td><td>V. Sampathkumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tiruvannamalai</td><td>62</td><td>Chengam (SC)</td><td>M. P. Giri</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>63</td><td>Tiruvannamalai</td><td>E. V. Velu</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>64</td><td>Kilpennathur</td><td>K. Pitchandi</td><td>Deputy Speaker</td></tr><tr><td>65</td><td>Kalasapakkam</td><td>P. S. T. Saravanan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>66</td><td>Polur</td><td>S. S. Krishnamoorthy</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>67</td><td>Arani</td><td>Sevvoor S. Ramachandran</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>68</td><td>Cheyyar</td><td>O. Jothi</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>69</td><td>Vandavasi (SC)</td><td>S. Ambeth Kumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Viluppuram</td><td>70</td><td>Gingee</td><td>K. S. Masthan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>71</td><td>Mailam</td><td>C. Sivakumar</td><td></td><td>PMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>72</td><td>Tindivanam (SC)</td><td>P. Arjunan</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>73</td><td>Vanur (SC)</td><td>M. Chakrapani</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>74</td><td>Villupuram</td><td>R. Lakshmanan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>75</td><td>Vikravandi</td><td>N. Pugazhenthi</td><td>Died on 6 April 2024</td></tr><tr><td>Anniyur Siva</td><td>Won in 2024 bypoll</td></tr><tr><td>76</td><td>Tirukkoyilur</td><td>K. Ponmudy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kallakurichi</td><td>77</td><td>Ulundurpettai</td><td>A. J. Manikannan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>78</td><td>Rishivandiyam</td><td>Vasantham K. Karthikeyan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>79</td><td>Sankarapuram</td><td>T. Udhayasuriyan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>80</td><td>Kallakurichi (SC)</td><td>M. Senthilkumar</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Salem</td><td>81</td><td>Gangavalli (SC)</td><td>A. Nallathambi</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>82</td><td>Attur (SC)</td><td>A. P. Jayasankaran</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>83</td><td>Yercaud (ST)</td><td>G. Chitra</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>84</td><td>Omalur</td><td>R. Mani</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>85</td><td>Mettur</td><td>S. Sadhasivam</td><td></td><td>PMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>86</td><td>Edappadi</td><td>Edappadi K. Palaniswami</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td>Leader of the Opposition</td></tr><tr><td>87</td><td>Sankari</td><td>S. Sundararajan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>88</td><td>Salem (West)</td><td>R. Arul</td><td></td><td>PMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>PMK(R)</td><td></td><td>None</td><td>Aligned with S. Ramadoss-led PMK in 2025</td></tr><tr><td>89</td><td>Salem (North)</td><td>R. Rajendran</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>90</td><td>Salem (South)</td><td>E. Balasubramanian</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>91</td><td>Veerapandi</td><td>M. Rajamuthu</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Namakkal</td><td>92</td><td>Rasipuram (SC)</td><td>M. Mathiventhan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>93</td><td>Senthamangalam (ST)</td><td>K. Ponnusamy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vacant</td><td>Died on 23 October 2025</td></tr><tr><td>94</td><td>Namakkal</td><td>P. Ramalingam</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>95</td><td>Paramathi-Velur</td><td>S. Sekar</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>96</td><td>Tiruchengodu</td><td>E. R. Eswaran</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>97</td><td>Kumarapalayam</td><td>P. Thangamani</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Erode</td><td>98</td><td>Erode (East)</td><td>Thirumagan Evera</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td>Died on 4 January 2023</td></tr><tr><td>E. V. K. S. Elangovan</td><td>Won in 2023 bypoll. Died on 14 December 2024</td></tr><tr><td>V. C. Chandhirakumar</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td>Won in 2025 bypoll</td></tr><tr><td>99</td><td>Erode (West)</td><td>S. Muthusamy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>100</td><td>Modakkurichi</td><td>C. Saraswathi</td><td></td><td>BJP</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tiruppur</td><td>101</td><td>Dharapuram (SC)</td><td>N. Kayalvizhi</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>102</td><td>Kangayam</td><td>M. P. Saminathan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Erode</td><td>103</td><td>Perundurai</td><td>S. Jayakumar</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>104</td><td>Bhavani</td><td>K. C. Karuppannan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>105</td><td>Anthiyur</td><td>A. G. Venkatachalam</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>106</td><td>Gobichettipalayam</td><td>K. A. Sengottaiyan</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>None</td><td>Expelled from AIADMK</td></tr><tr><td>Vacant</td><td>Resigned on 26 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td>107</td><td>Bhavanisagar (SC)</td><td>A. Bannari</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nilgiris</td><td>108</td><td>Udhagamandalam</td><td>R. Ganesh</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>109</td><td>Gudalur (SC)</td><td>Pon. Jayaseelan</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>110</td><td>Coonoor</td><td>K. Ramachandran</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Coimbatore</td><td>111</td><td>Mettupalayam</td><td>A. K. Selvaraj</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tiruppur</td><td>112</td><td>Avanashi (SC)</td><td>P. Dhanapal</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>113</td><td>Tiruppur (North)</td><td>K. N. Vijayakumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>114</td><td>Tiruppur (South)</td><td>K. Selvaraj</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>115</td><td>Palladam</td><td>M. S. M. Anandan</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Coimbatore</td><td>116</td><td>Sulur</td><td>V. P. Kandasamy</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>117</td><td>Kavundampalayam</td><td>P. R. G. Arunkumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>118</td><td>Coimbatore (North)</td><td>Amman K. Arjunan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>119</td><td>Thondamuthur</td><td>S. P. Velumani</td><td>Chief Whip of the Opposition</td></tr><tr><td>120</td><td>Coimbatore (South)</td><td>Vanathi Srinivasan</td><td></td><td>BJP</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>121</td><td>Singanallur</td><td>K. R. Jayaram</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>122</td><td>Kinathukadavu</td><td>S. Damodaran</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>123</td><td>Pollachi</td><td>Pollachi V. Jayaraman</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>124</td><td>Valparai (SC)</td><td>T. K. Amulkandasami</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vacant</td><td>Died on 21 June 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Tiruppur</td><td>125</td><td>Udumalaipettai</td><td>Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>126</td><td>Madathukulam</td><td>C. Mahendran</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dindigul</td><td>127</td><td>Palani</td><td>I. P. Senthil Kumar</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>128</td><td>Oddanchatram</td><td>R. Sakkarapani</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>129</td><td>Athoor</td><td>I. Periyasamy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>130</td><td>Nilakottai (SC)</td><td>S. Thenmozhi</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>131</td><td>Natham</td><td>Natham R. Viswanathan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>132</td><td>Dindigul</td><td>Dindigul C. Sreenivaasan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>133</td><td>Vedasandur</td><td>S. Gandhirajan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Karur</td><td>134</td><td>Aravakurichi</td><td>Monjanoor R. Elango</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>135</td><td>Karur</td><td>V. Senthilbalaji</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>136</td><td>Krishnarayapuram (SC)</td><td>K. Sivagama Sundari</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>137</td><td>Kulithalai</td><td>R. Manickam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tiruchirappalli</td><td>138</td><td>Manapparai</td><td>P. Abdul Samad</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>139</td><td>Srirangam</td><td>M. Palaniyandi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>140</td><td>Tiruchirappalli (West)</td><td>K. N. Nehru</td><td>Deputy Leader of the House</td></tr><tr><td>141</td><td>Tiruchirappalli (East)</td><td>Inigo S. Irudayaraj</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>142</td><td>Thiruverumbur</td><td>Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>143</td><td>Lalgudi</td><td>A. Soundara Pandian</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>144</td><td>Manachanallur</td><td>S. Kathiravan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>145</td><td>Musiri</td><td>N. Thiyagarajan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>146</td><td>Thuraiyur (SC)</td><td>S. Stalin Kumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Perambalur</td><td>147</td><td>Perambalur (SC)</td><td>M. Prabhakaran</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>148</td><td>Kunnam</td><td>S. S. Sivasankar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ariyalur</td><td>149</td><td>Ariyalur</td><td>K. Chinnappa</td><td></td><td>MDMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>150</td><td>Jayankondam</td><td>Ka. So. Ka. Kannan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cuddalore</td><td>151</td><td>Tittakudi (SC)</td><td>C. V. Ganesan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>152</td><td>Vriddhachalam</td><td>R. Radhakrishnan</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>153</td><td>Neyveli</td><td>Saba Rajendran</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>154</td><td>Panruti</td><td>T. Velmurugan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>155</td><td>Cuddalore</td><td>G. Iyappan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>156</td><td>Kurinjipadi</td><td>M. R. K. Panneerselvam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>157</td><td>Bhuvanagiri</td><td>A. Arunmozhithevan</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>158</td><td>Chidambaram</td><td>K. A. Pandian</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>159</td><td>Kattumannarkoil (SC)</td><td>M. Sinthanai Selvan</td><td></td><td>VCK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mayiladuthurai</td><td>160</td><td>Sirkazhi (SC)</td><td>M. Panneerselvam</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>161</td><td>Mayiladuthurai</td><td>S. Rajakumar</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>162</td><td>Poompuhar</td><td>Nivedha M. Murugan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nagapattinam</td><td>163</td><td>Nagapattinam</td><td>Aloor Shanavas</td><td></td><td>VCK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>164</td><td>Kilvelur (SC)</td><td>V. P. Nagaimaali</td><td></td><td>CPI(M)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>165</td><td>Vedaranyam</td><td>O. S. Manian</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tiruvarur</td><td>166</td><td>Thiruthuraipoondi (SC)</td><td>K. Marimuthu</td><td></td><td>CPI</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>167</td><td>Mannargudi</td><td>Dr. T. R. B. Rajaa</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>168</td><td>Thiruvarur</td><td>K. Poondi Kalaivanan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>169</td><td>Nannilam</td><td>R. Kamaraj</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Thanjavur</td><td>170</td><td>Thiruvidaimarudur (SC)</td><td>Go. Vi. Chezhiyan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td>Chief Whip of the Government</td></tr><tr><td>171</td><td>Kumbakonam</td><td>G. Anbazhagan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>172</td><td>Papanasam</td><td>Dr. M. H. Jawahirullah</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>173</td><td>Thiruvaiyaru</td><td>Durai Chandrasekaran</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>174</td><td>Thanjavur</td><td>T. K. G. Neelamegam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>175</td><td>Orathanadu</td><td>R. Vaithilingam</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>None</td><td>Expelled from AIADMK</td></tr><tr><td>Vacant</td><td>Resigned on 21 January 2026</td></tr><tr><td>176</td><td>Pattukkottai</td><td>K. Annadurai</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>177</td><td>Peravurani</td><td>N. Ashok Kumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pudukkottai</td><td>178</td><td>Gandharvakottai (SC)</td><td>M. Chinnadurai</td><td></td><td>CPI(M)</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>179</td><td>Viralimalai</td><td>C. Vijayabaskar</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>180</td><td>Pudukkottai</td><td>Dr. V. Muthuraja</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>181</td><td>Thirumayam</td><td>S. Ragupathi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>182</td><td>Alangudi</td><td>Meyyanathan Siva V</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>183</td><td>Aranthangi</td><td>T. Ramachandran</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sivaganga</td><td>184</td><td>Karaikudi</td><td>S. Mangudi</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>185</td><td>Tiruppattur (Sivaganga)</td><td>K. R. Periyakaruppan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>186</td><td>Sivaganga</td><td>P. R. Senthilnathan</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>187</td><td>Manamadurai (SC)</td><td>A. Tamilarasi</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Madurai</td><td>188</td><td>Melur</td><td>P. Selvam</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>189</td><td>Madurai East</td><td>P. Moorthy</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>190</td><td>Sholavandan (SC)</td><td>A. Venkatesan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>191</td><td>Madurai North</td><td>G. Thalapathi</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>192</td><td>Madurai South</td><td>M. Boominathan</td><td></td><td>MDMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>193</td><td>Madurai Central</td><td>Palanivel Thiagarajan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>194</td><td>Madurai West</td><td>Sellur K. Raju</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>195</td><td>Thiruparankundram</td><td>V. V. Rajan Chellappa</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>196</td><td>Tirumangalam</td><td>R. B. Udhayakumar</td><td>Deputy Leader of Opposition</td></tr><tr><td>197</td><td>Usilampatti</td><td>P. Ayyappan</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>None</td><td>Resigned from AIADMK</td></tr><tr><td>Vacant</td><td>Resigned after joining DMK on 27 February 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Theni</td><td>198</td><td>Andipatti</td><td>A. Maharajan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>199</td><td>Periyakulam (SC)</td><td>K. S. Saravana Kumar</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>200</td><td>Bodinayakanur</td><td>O. Panneerselvam</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>None</td><td>Expelled from AIADMK</td></tr><tr><td>Vacant</td><td>Resigned after joining DMK on 27 February 2026</td></tr><tr><td>201</td><td>Cumbum</td><td>N. Eramakrishnan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Virudhunagar</td><td>202</td><td>Rajapalayam</td><td>S. Thangappandian</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>203</td><td>Srivilliputhur (SC)</td><td>E. M. Manraj</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>204</td><td>Sattur</td><td>A. R. R. Raghumaran</td><td></td><td>MDMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>205</td><td>Sivakasi</td><td>A. M. S. G. Ashokan</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>206</td><td>Virudhunagar</td><td>A. R. R. Seenivasan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>207</td><td>Aruppukkottai</td><td>K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>208</td><td>Tiruchuli</td><td>Thangam Thennarasu</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ramanathapuram</td><td>209</td><td>Paramakudi (SC)</td><td>S. Murugesan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>210</td><td>Tiruvadanai</td><td>R. M. Karumanickam</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>211</td><td>Ramanathapuram</td><td>Katharbatcha Muthuramalingam</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>212</td><td>Mudhukulathur</td><td>R. S. Raja Kannappan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Thoothukudi</td><td>213</td><td>Vilathikulam</td><td>G. V. Markandayan</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>214</td><td>Thoothukkudi</td><td>P. Geetha Jeevan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>215</td><td>Tiruchendur</td><td>Anitha Radhakrishnan</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>216</td><td>Srivaikuntam</td><td>Oorvasi S. Amirtharaj</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>217</td><td>Ottapidaram (SC)</td><td>M. C. Shunmugaiah</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>218</td><td>Kovilpatti</td><td>Kadambur C. Raju</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tenkasi</td><td>219</td><td>Sankarankovil (SC)</td><td>E. Raja</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>220</td><td>Vasudevanallur (SC)</td><td>T. Sadhan Tirumalaikumar</td><td></td><td>MDMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>221</td><td>Kadayanallur</td><td>C. Krishnamurali</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>222</td><td>Tenkasi</td><td>S. Palani Nadar</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>223</td><td>Alangulam</td><td>P. H. Manoj Pandian</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td><td>None</td><td>Expelled from AIADMK</td></tr><tr><td>Vacant</td><td>Resigned on 4 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Tirunelveli</td><td>224</td><td>Tirunelveli</td><td>Nainar Nagendran</td><td></td><td>BJP</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>225</td><td>Ambasamudram</td><td>E. Subaya</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>226</td><td>Palayamkottai</td><td>M. Abdul Wahab</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>227</td><td>Nanguneri</td><td>Ruby R. Manoharan</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>228</td><td>Radhapuram</td><td>M. Appavu</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td>Speaker</td></tr><tr><td>Kanyakumari</td><td>229</td><td>Kanniyakumari</td><td>N. Thalavai Sundaram</td><td></td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>NDA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>230</td><td>Nagercoil</td><td>M. R. Gandhi</td><td></td><td>BJP</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>231</td><td>Colachel</td><td>Prince J.G.</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>SPA</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>232</td><td>Padmanabhapuram</td><td>Mano Thangaraj</td><td></td><td>DMK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>233</td><td>Vilavancode</td><td>S. Vijayadharani</td><td></td><td>INC</td><td>Resigned on 24 Feb 2024</td></tr><tr><td>Tharahai Cuthbert</td><td>Won in 2024 bypoll</td></tr><tr><td>234</td><td>Killiyoor</td><td>S. Rajeshkumar</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Party position

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

<table><thead><tr><th>Alliance</th><th>Political party</th><th>No. of MLAs</th><th>Leader of the party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Government SPA Seats: 158</td><td></td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td>133</td><td>M. K. Stalin (Chief Minister)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td>17</td><td>S. Rajesh Kumar</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi</td><td>4</td><td>Sinthanai Selvan</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Communist Party of India (Marxist)</td><td>2</td><td>V. P. Nagaimaali</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Communist Party of India</td><td>2</td><td>T. Ramachandran</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Opposition AIADMK+ Seats: 67</td><td></td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td>60</td><td>Edappadi K. Palaniswami (Leader of the Opposition)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Bharatiya Janata Party</td><td>4</td><td>Nainar Nagenthran</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Pattali Makkal Katchi</td><td>3</td><td>S. P. Venkateshwaran</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Others Seats: 2</td><td></td><td>Pattali Makkal Katchi (S. Ramadoss)</td><td>2</td><td>G. K. Mani</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Vacant Seats: 7</td><td></td><td></td><td>7</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>234</td></tr></tbody></table>

Standing committees of the house (2024–26)

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

The following standing committee of the house was constituted on 29 June 2024.

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Name</th><th>Chairperson</th><th>No. of members (Excluding chairperson)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Business Advisory Committee</td><td>M. Appavu</td><td></td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Committee on Rules</td><td>M. Appavu</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Committee of Privileges</td><td>K. Pitchandi</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Committee on Estimates</td><td>S. Gandhirajan</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Committee on Public Accounts</td><td>K. Selvaperunthagai</td><td></td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Committee on Public Undertakings</td><td>A. P. Nandakumar</td><td></td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Committee on Delegated Legislation</td><td>G. V. Markandayan</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Committee on Government Assurances</td><td>T. Velmurugan</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>House Committee</td><td>I. Paranthamen</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Committee on Petitions</td><td>K. Ramachandran</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Library Committee</td><td>J. L. Eswarappan</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Committee on Papers Laid on the Table of the House</td><td>R. Lakshmanan</td><td>10</td></tr></tbody></table>

Portraits in the assembly chamber

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Portrait of</th><th>Unveiled</th><th>Ruling party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>On</td><td>By</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>C. Rajagopalachari</td><td>24 June 1948</td><td>Jawaharlal Nehru</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Mahatma Gandhi</td><td>23 August 1948</td><td>C. Rajagopalachari</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Thiruvalluvar</td><td>22 March 1964</td><td>Zakir Husain</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>C. N. Annadurai</td><td>6 October 1969</td><td>Indira Gandhi</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>K. Kamaraj</td><td>18 August 1977</td><td>Neelam Sanjiva Reddy</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>E. V. Ramasami</td><td>9 August 1980</td><td>Jothi Venkatachalam</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>B. R. Ambedkar</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>U. Muthuramalingam</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>M. Muhammad Ismail</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>M. G. Ramachandran</td><td>31 January 1992</td><td>J. Jayalalithaa</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>J. Jayalalithaa</td><td>12 February 2018</td><td>P. Dhanapal</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>S. S. Ramaswami</td><td>19 July 2019</td><td>Edappadi K. Palaniswami</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>V. O. Chidambaram</td><td>23 February 2021</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>P. Subbarayan</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Omanthur P. Ramaswamy</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>M. Karunanidhi</td><td>2 August 2021</td><td>Ram Nath Kovind</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

The bust of P. Rajagopalachari and L. D. Swamikannu Pillai, former presidents of the Madras Legislative Council, adorns the assembly lobby.