Politically, Trichy holds a special place in Tamil Nadu. Many political leaders believe that holding a conference in Trichy marks a turning point, which is why several parties launch their major campaigns from this city.
Published Nov 04, 2025 | 9:46 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 04, 2025 | 9:47 AM
Tiruchirappalli.
Synopsis: Once an important bastion of the AIADMK under the late J Jayalalithaa, Tiruchirappalli’s nine constituencies are now dominated by the ruling DMK, with senior leaders K. N. Nehru and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi widely regarded as the two power centres in the district. Despite occasional factional strains within the DMK, the AIADMK has struggled to project a unifying leader. However, as Tamil Nadu heads into the 2026 Assembly polls, the party is expected to attempt a strong comeback.
Considered the geographical centre of Tamil Nadu, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) has held socio-cultural and political significance for centuries. Literary and archaeological evidence suggests that the region has been inhabited for over two thousand years.
From the Cholas, Pallavas, and Pandyas to the Mughals and the Vijayanagara Empire, Trichy has been ruled by several powerful dynasties.
The city is synonymous with landmarks such as the Rockfort, Manapparai murukku, the Cauvery riverbank, and the Srirangam temple.
During the freedom movement, MK Gandhi visited Trichy six times. Later, the city became a key centre of the anti-Hindi agitations.
Politically, Trichy holds a special place in Tamil Nadu. No major party has gone without conducting at least one major conference here. Many political leaders believe that holding a conference in Trichy marks a turning point, which is why several parties launch their major campaigns from this city.
Trichy district currently has nine Assembly constituencies and a total of 23,47,852 voters: 12,10,847 women, 11,36,640 men, and 34 others. Minister for Municipal Administration KN Nehru and Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi also hail from the district.
The Tiruchirappalli Lok Sabha constituency comprises six Assembly segments: Srirangam, Tiruchi West, Tiruchi East, Thiruverumbur, and, from neighbouring districts, Gandarvakottai and Pudukottai. The current MP is Durai Vaiko of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), an ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Being centrally located, Trichy reflects the social characteristics of southern, western, and northern Tamil Nadu. Politically, the district plays a decisive role in determining electoral outcomes.
With the 2026 Assembly election approaching, a constituency-wise picture helps in understanding the political mood.
Located on the outskirts of Trichy, Manapparai is known for its iconic murukku snack and its cattle market. Agriculture remains the primary occupation here. The current MLA is P Abdul Samad of the DMK. The constituency has 2,84,386 voters: 1,44,955 women, 1,39,422 men, and 9 others.
Socially, the constituency is aligned with western Tamil Nadu, with a significant Gounder population, followed by Dalit, Muthuraja, and other communities.
Key local demands include the establishment of a government arts college, a perfume or botanical processing factory to support large-scale flower cultivation in the region, and the expansion of the nearby TNPL paper mill.
Part of the Trichy city region, Srirangam is a sacred town with temples at every turn. The constituency is currently represented by DMK MLA M Palaniyandi.
Historically, Srirangam has been an AIADMK stronghold. Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa contested and won from here, turning it into a “star constituency”. However, the DMK captured it in the 2021 election.
The population includes a mix of Muthuraja, Dalit, and other communities. A long-pending issue in the area is land patta rights, particularly around temple lands. Residents have been protesting the government’s classification of their residential areas as temple property and are demanding pattas.
The present DMK government has shown more urgency than its predecessor in addressing these concerns, making this a key electoral issue. “This may reflect in the 2026 polls,” say political observers in the region.
The widely held view is that current MLA Palaniyandi is unlikely to be given a ticket again due to various issues and allegations against him.
The Tiruchi West constituency, currently represented by Minister KN Nehru, has long been his political bastion. Since 1989, he has won five times from different Trichy constituencies. The seat has 2,77,018 voters: 1,44,126 women, 1,32,857 men, and 35 others.
The constituency comprises a mix of Muthuraja, Dalit, Reddy, and Muslim communities. Nehru, who belongs to the Reddy community, has won consecutively in the last two elections.
Recent public grievances include opposition to the relocation of the central market and complaints over the shifting of the main bus stand to Panjappur, which residents say is too far.
Despite local dissatisfaction over some civic issues, many residents believe that if Nehru contests again, he is likely to retain the seat.
DMK’s Inigo S Irudayaraj is the current MLA of Tiruchi East, having defeated former AIADMK leader and former Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natarajan.
Irudayaraj has publicly announced that he will not contest from this constituency again, alleging that he has not been allowed to function independently. This has made Tiruchi East one of the most politically tense seats in the district.
The constituency has 2,60,056 voters: 1,34,337 women, 1,25,646 men, and 73 others. A large section of voters here belongs to the Christian community, including Christian Vellalars, along with significant numbers of Muthuraja and Dalit voters.
Being part of the city zone, residents frequently complain about poor road conditions and civic infrastructure. With internal disputes within the DMK and the MLA’s allegations of interference, the constituency is expected to witness a close contest in the next election.
Lalgudi is considered one of the strongest DMK bastions in the Trichy district. Minister KN Nehru has won here twice, but the party’s most influential figure in the region is A Soundarapandian, who has held the seat since 2006.
Even during the peak of Jayalalithaa’s political dominance, when the AIADMK swept across Trichy, Soundarapandian managed to retain Lalgudi for the DMK.
Known for staying away from controversy and maintaining cordial ties with the public, Soundarapandian is widely respected locally.
The constituency has 2,22,853 voters: 1,15,455 women, 1,07,375 men, and 23 others. The majority community here is Muthuraja, followed by Dalit, Thevar, and Udayar communities. Despite being from the Udayar community, Soundarapandian continues to command strong support across caste lines.
A long-pending demand is the construction of a bridge across the Kollidam river to link Koovur-Idaiyattru Mangalam with Kilikoodu. Locals point out that travel to Kallanai currently requires a minimum 30-km journey, which would be drastically reduced if the bridge is built. Another key demand is for the Vaigai Express to stop at Lalgudi railway station.
Although the constituency has consistently backed the DMK, political circles say Soundarapandian may not get a ticket this time due to tensions between him and Minister KN Nehru. This internal rift could benefit the AIADMK.
Manachanallur recently made headlines across the State after its MLA, S Kathiravan, was accused of involvement in a kidney transplant racket linked to his private hospital. The AIADMK and other opposition parties have levelled allegations, making the constituency politically sensitive.
The constituency has 2,58,700 voters: 1,34,225 women, 1,24,426 men, and 49 others. Predominantly agrarian, the area is known for paddy and banana cultivation. The Muthuraja community forms the largest share of voters, followed by Reddiyar, Dalit, and other communities.
Kathiravan, a businessman in the medical and education sectors, is said to have gained popularity by offering free medical assistance to residents of the constituency through his hospital.
Locals claim that even though the kidney scam became a major political issue across the State, it has not strongly affected public opinion within the constituency.
Political observers say that if the DMK gives him a ticket again, Kathiravan still stands a strong chance of winning.
Part of the rural outskirts of Trichy, Musiri is predominantly agriculture-based, known for the cultivation of betel leaves, dry grass mat production, and riverbed farming. It has 2,25,917 voters: 1,15,834 women, 1,10,060 men, and 23 others. The current MLA is DMK’s N Thiyagarajan.
Although traditionally an AIADMK-leaning seat, the DMK has won here four times in the past and has now reclaimed it.
The constituency has a dominant Muthuraja population, along with Dalits and other mixed communities.
Local demands include the setting up of agro-based industries, value-addition units for tapioca (which has expanded significantly), and better employment opportunities for educated youth, many of whom are forced to take up truck-driving jobs due to a lack of alternatives.
Thiruverumbur is the constituency of School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, whose family has been active in Tamil Nadu politics for three generations.
His grandfather, Anbil Dharmalingam, was one of the founding leaders of the DMK and a close associate of former chief minister M Karunanidhi. His father, Anbil Poyyamozhi, was also a multiple-term MLA and a close aide of the current Chief Minister MK Stalin. Continuing the family’s legacy, Anbil Mahesh has been the MLA since 2016 and also serves as the DMK’s district secretary.
The constituency has a large Mukulathor (Thevar) population, followed by a considerable number of Dalit voters, which has worked in Mahesh’s favour.
Key unresolved issues include the lack of a service road on the Paalpannai–Thanjavur stretch and the long-standing dispute over the Ariyamangalam waste dump yard.
Despite these concerns, political observers believe Mahesh is well-positioned to win again.
Thuraiyur is the only reserved (SC) Assembly constituency in the Trichy district. The seat is currently represented by DMK’s S Stalin Kumar.
The largely agrarian constituency has 2,27,172 voters: 1,17,384 women, 1,09,754 men, and 34 others. The DMK has won this constituency in the last two consecutive elections, making it a stronghold for the party. Stalin Kumar is regarded as the key DMK leader in this region.
The constituency has a dominant Dalit population, along with smaller numbers of other communities.
During the tenure of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the Pachamalai region within this constituency was declared a tourist zone, and foundation work was initiated. Known for its waterfalls and rare species of butterflies, the area has significant tourism potential.
However, no major development has taken place since the announcement, and the project remains shelved. Locals say that turning Pachamalai into a proper tourist destination would benefit people across at least four surrounding districts.
After the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Trichy became one of the districts where the AIADMK suffered a major decline. One of the main reasons was the absence of any strong second-line leaders from Trichy who could fill the void left by her.
As a result, several constituencies that were once AIADMK strongholds have shifted to the DMK, which now holds them firmly.
Within the DMK, the district is informally divided between two power centres: Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Minister KN Nehru. Political insiders say Mahesh controls Thiruverumbur, Manapparai, and Tiruchi East, while Nehru dominates the remaining constituencies. Both are said to follow an unwritten rule: “I won’t interfere in your turf, you don’t interfere in mine.” Even so, occasional friction between their factions reportedly surfaces.
A notable internal rift also exists between Nehru and Lalgudi MLA A Soundarapandian – a factor that could influence candidate selection and party strategy.
On the AIADMK side, although former Minister Vellamandi Natarajan remains active, the party lacks a single dominant figure in the district, weakening its prospects.
Residents of Trichy’s rural belts point out that several villages still lack basic sanitation facilities. In some Dalit hamlets, there is reportedly no proper road even to the cremation ground. These unaddressed demands remain long-standing grievances.
Against this backdrop, the AIADMK is expected to attempt a strong comeback in 2026 to reclaim its lost seats. However, despite internal factional tensions within the DMK, the overall political atmosphere across the district currently appears favourable to the ruling party.
As for actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, observers say the party has yet to make a significant impact in the Trichy region. For now, the ground mood remains largely pro-DMK.
