The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) bid to gain a foothold in the central region failed to fructify as the party’s nominees were defeated in all the five Assembly constituencies that they contested as part of an alliance led by the AIADMK and despite aggressive poll campaigns on the ground in the run up to the election. 

The national party had fielded its candidates in Pudukottai, Aranthangi. and Gandharvakottai (reserved) constituencies in Pudukottai district besides in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur constituencies this time in the AIADMK-led NDA combine. This is for the first time that the BJP was contesting in five constituencies in the central region with solid backing by the AIADMK.