BJP leader L Murugan seen talking to cadre during his campaign in Annur area in Avinashi constituency of Tamil Nadu. | Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh

The Avinashi Assembly constituency, straddling the industrial belts of Tiruppur and Coimbatore, is witnessing a keenly watched contest in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with a mix of established leadership and youthful challengers shaping the narrative.

The spotlight is on the 48-year-old L Murugan of the Bharatiya Janata Party, a Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, who faces an unusual contest against three women candidates. His principal challenger is 26-year-old doctor V. Kokilamani of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, one of the youngest candidates in this election. The fray also includes S. Kamali of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and V. Menaka of Naam Tamilar Katchi.

Traditionally, Avinashi has been a stronghold of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which has held the seat for five consecutive terms. The last time the DMK won here was in the 1996 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

However, in a significant shift, the AIADMK—leading the NDA alliance in the State—has ceded the seat to its ally, the BJP, denying renomination to sitting MLA Dhanapal.

This transition has triggered mixed reactions among voters. The AIADMK’s iconic “Two-Leaves” symbol has long dominated the constituency, particularly among older voters. Its replacement by the BJP’s Lotus symbol is seen by some local cadres as a potential hurdle in voter identification, especially among elderly women.

The alliance partner’s symbol Lotus (of BJP) will replace Two-Leaves in the ballot box. “This may pose a challenge for the BJP as older women have been voting for the Two-Leaves and may find it difficult in identifying the Lotus symbol,” said Kuppuswamy, a supporter of AIADMK from Annur.

Kuppuswamy is upset that his party is not fighting this time but is confident that the NDA will win. “We are all working as a team to ensure the alliance wins in Avinashi,” he said.

But his party colleague Kannan differs saying, “Annamalai’s exhaustive campaign will help the alliance win.”

Murugan’s main competitor is the 26-year-year doctor V Kokilamani of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the party’s youngest candidate in this election. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s S. Kamali and Naam Tamilar Katchi’s V. Menaka are the other two women contestants.

On the campaign trail, Kokilamani is drawing attention with grassroots outreach. At Ponnegoundenpudur village, a large gathering—mostly women—waited for hours in the heat to hear her speak. In a brief address, she criticised past AIADMK representatives for lack of accessibility and promised to be a responsive, locally present MLA. She also pointed to welfare measures implemented by the DMK government, particularly for women, as a key electoral plank.

The AIADMK claims that Avinashi is one of their bastions. However, the party has not done anything to this constituency in the last 25 years, she told businessline in a brief chat Ponnegoundenpudur. “In the last five years, our government has done a favour for the welfare of the people, especially women. This should help us in this election,” she added.

“Murugan will win from Avinashi. However, the winning margin may be small when compared to last time as youngsters may vote for TVK’s candidate,” said Tamilan, a 31-year-old auto driver at Ponnegoundenpudur.

Despite AIADMK’s historical dominance, there is a sense that the contest may be tighter this time. Some voters believe Murugan retains an edge due to the alliance arithmetic, but younger voters could tilt toward alternatives like TVK.

Beyond party politics, local issues remain central. Avinashi’s agrarian economy—built on crops such as coconut, banana, maize, and sugarcane—faces persistent challenges. Farmers complain of inadequate price realisation, blaming middlemen for eroding their margins. Addressing these concerns is likely to be a critical test for whoever wins.

Murugan, for his part, is banking heavily on the AIADMK’s entrenched support base in the constituency, hoping that the alliance transfer of votes will be enough to secure victory.

Published on April 16, 2026