The Kanniyakumari assembly constituency which has the largest number of electorates in the district, has a total of 2,86,968 voters, including 1,41,230 men,1,45,643 women and 95 others, following the recently conducted Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Tamil Nadu.

Although Kanniyakumari district has traditionally been a stronghold of national parties such as Congress, Communists and BJP, since 1971 this constituency has elected its MLAs from either AIADMK or DMK. Over 45 years, only AIADMK has won twice continuously in the 1980 and 1984 elections. Otherwise the seat has alternated between AIADMK and DMK.