What happened in the 2018 elections, when the last polls were held?

The 2018 Assembly election results did not give any party a clear majority. After the results, the BJP was called to form the government as the single-largest party, with 104 MLAs in a House of 224. However, the Congress and JD(S) quickly came together and assembled 116 names (Congress 76, JD-S 37 and three independents) to remove it. Within a year though, the Congress-JD(S) had been toppled when 17 of their MLAs resigned from the Assembly — after being holed up in a resort in Mumbai leading up to this — and switched sides to the BJP. Karnataka BJP stalwart BS Yediyurappa became the chief minister but resigned on July 26, 2021. He was replaced by Basavaraj Bommai, who, like Yediyurappa, hails from the Lingayat community.

What is the main challenge for the BJP in Karnataka?

In both its terms in government (2008-13 and 2019 to date), the BJP did not win a clear majority in Karnataka, the only state it is in power in south India. But here is perhaps the biggest roadblock: Karnataka has never voted an incumbent back to power in 40 years.

What are some of the key conversations playing out ahead of the Karnataka polls?

Karnataka is by and large governed by specific, local factors. Hence, its caste-matrix and regional specificities have dominated the conversation at the time of the candidate selection and will likely do so going forward.

Who are the big players in Karnataka?

Naturally, the BJP, whose core base is said to be among the dominant Lingayat community. The Congress has a strong local cadre, with bastions across the state. Over the years, it has also found the backing from the SCs and STs in the state (Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is a tall Dalit Congress leader from the state). The Janata Dal (Secular) – the party of former prime minister Deve Gowda – has an influence in the old Mysuru region in the state's South. It is considered that the JD(S)'s best bet is another fractured verdict like in 2004 and 2018, which would place it - like before - in the kingmaker’s seat.

How important are the Lingayats?

At nearly 17 per cent of the population, Lingayats are believed to be the state’s single largest community and reside mostly in North and Central Karnataka districts. Until the 1990s, the Lingayats, followers of Basavanna, a social reformer, largely voted for the Congress. In 1989, it formed the government in the state with the largest majority ever, 179 out of the 224 seats in the Assembly, because of the Lingayat votes mobilised by Veerendra Patil. Then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s dismissal of Patil in 1990 is said to have moved the Lingayats away from the Congress towards the BJP. This also led to the rise of BS Yediyurappa as the community’s face in the BJP. He remains its most popular leader, despite alleged attempts to sideline him. Congress, too, is trying hard to woo the Lingayat community with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leading the outreach by visiting important pilgrimage sites for Lingayats, prominent mutts and more recently participating in Basava Jayanti celebrations.

What about the Vokkaligas?

Said to be the second-largest community in the state, they have historically voted either for the JD(S) or Congress. Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar are from the community. Several constituencies of the Vokkaliga heartland are bastions for the JD(S) and Congress, and BJP has stepped up its efforts to make inroads in the region during the upcoming election.

How have different parts of Karnataka voted over the years?

Kalyana Karnataka: Earlier called Hyderabad Karnataka, this part has remained a Congress stronghold. The party is working on improving its tally there this time, and is hoping the election of Kharge — who hails from the region — as the AICC president will generate a “wave” to further boost its prospects. Analysis of results across 40 constituencies of the region shows the Congress has won more than 50 per cent of these in the last two elections, while the BJP has lost some ground it had gained in the 2008 polls. Coastal Karnataka: The BJP produced a stirring performance in the coastal regions of Karnataka in 2018, winning 18 out of a total of 21 seats. It has been a saffron party stronghold. While the Congress could only manage to secure three seats, down from 13, JD(S) got zero. Bombay Karnataka: In 2018, the BJP won 30 out of the 50 seats here, in a reiterating signal of its support from the Lingayats. The Congress got 17 seats. Central Karnataka: It comprises a total of 32 constituencies and has kept offering rich dividends to the BJP over the last decade and a half. Save for the 2013 Assembly polls, the BJP has bagged the most seats in the region since 2008. In 2018, the BJP won 21 of the seats, the Congress seven and the JD(S) won four. Old Mysuru: This region has so far only seen close contests between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular). When Union Minister Amit Shah launched the BJP’s Karnataka election campaign last December from Mandya in the southern part of the state, his underlying message for party workers was clear: make further inroads here. Across all of the state’s Assembly polls, the BJP has struggled to cross the double-digit mark in the 48 constituencies in the region’s eight districts. South Karnataka is dominated by the Vokkaliga community that has largely favoured either the JD(S) or the Congress over the years.

What about Bengaluru? Who performs well in the city?

The Congress has been faring better than the BJP in the Bengaluru Urban district, which comprises 28 seats, in the last two Assembly polls. But the 2017 defections that precipitated the fall of the JD(S) and Congress coalition government give the BJP a slight edge in the urban hub.

Are we looking at any Karnataka CM faces?

The BJP has so far not declared a CM face, just as the Congress. In Congress, though, the race is largely considered to be between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah — who both have a strong group of loyalist party leaders rallying behind them.

Virudhunagar LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULTS Live

Latest News

The Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituency has 27 candidates in the fray. The candidates contesting for the Virudhunagar seat are 27. The assets and liabilities declared by each of the candidates are as follows - Ashok Kumar M, Ganeshamoorthi G, Jeyaraj T, Kaushik S, Mahendra Ramakrishnan P, Manickam Tagore B, Manikandan M, Marieeswari M, Mariselvam S, Mayak Kannan B, Muthukannu C, Palanichamy P, Palanisamy K, Pandiyammal R, Radikaa R, Rajagopal S, Rajesh, Sankaranarayanan N, Sekar S, Selvakumar M, Selvarajan V V, Selvi K, Sudalaimani M, Suresh, Vedha Alias Dhamodharan, Venkateswaran V K, Vijayaprabhakaran V.

Virudhunagar votes on Apr 19. The last date for filing nominations in Virudhunagar was Mar 27, and the last date for withdrawing nominations was Mar 30.

The Election Commission has announced a 7-phase election to elect the 18th Lok Sabha starting on April 19. The results will be announced on June 4. With the announcement of the election schedule, all the political parties have hit ground. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as a dominant force with landmark victories in the preceding two elections. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the BJP has solidified its position, capitalising on a blend of populist policies, nationalist rhetoric, and astute electoral strategy. Modi's appeal and the party's organizational prowess seem to have resonated with the electorate.

Opposition parties, albeit fragmented, are expected to mount a spirited challenge, aiming to capitalise on voter disenchantment, regional grievances, and policy critiques. For the Congress and its INDIA alliance, the script, however, does not seem to be going in the right direction. With squabbling over seat sharing to intra party fissures, the grand old party has a lot of ground to cover if it wants to take on the formidable BJP.

Congress focused on crafting a comprehensive manifesto that addresses the diverse needs and aspirations of the electorate. They also intensified their grassroots campaign efforts, mobilising supporters, and highlighting their vision for inclusive growth, social justice, and good governance. In this direction, Rahul Gandhi took out two country-wide yatras as part of his campaign to reach out to the voters. How far he has managed to regain the lost ground for the Congress only the results will tell.

We at indianexpress.comwill keep you informed about the latest election updates, with analysis, as the world's largest democracy is all set to elect a new government. Follow #Decision2024 onElection 2024: Get Latest News Updates on Lok Sabha Election 2024 and Upcoming Elections in India to understand the ever changing political dynamics of the country.

Live Virudhunagar Election Results

Candidate name Party Status

Virudhunagar CANDIDATE LIST 2024

Candidate name Party/ Alliance Assets/ Liabilities

Ashok Kumar M Rs 2,00,000 ~ 2 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 30 Graduate Professional

Ganeshamoorthi G Rs 2,00,000 ~ 2 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 32 Graduate Professional

Jeyaraj T Rs 21,50,000 ~ 21 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 59 12th Pass

Kaushik S Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 26 Graduate Professional

Mahendra Ramakrishnan P

Cases Age Education

0 35 8th Pass

Manickam Tagore B Rs 87,97,705 ~ 87 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

1 49 Graduate Professional

Manikandan M Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 30 Graduate Professional

Marieeswari M Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 43 8th Pass

Mariselvam S Rs 70,000 ~ 70 Thou+

Cases Age Education

0 48 5th Pass

Mayak Kannan B

Cases Age Education

0 37 10th Pass

Muthukannu C Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 58 Graduate Professional

Palanichamy P Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 36 Post Graduate

Palanisamy K Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 47 Graduate Professional

Pandiyammal R Rs 5,91,000 ~ 5 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 54 5th Pass

Radikaa R

Cases Age Education

0 61 Graduate

Rajagopal S Rs 4,00,000 ~ 4 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 69 Others

Rajesh Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 33 Others

Sankaranarayanan N Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 39 Others

Sekar S Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 60 8th Pass

Selvakumar M

Cases Age Education

0 36 5th Pass

Selvarajan V V Rs 8,50,000 ~ 8 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 49 Others

Selvi K Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 33 Post Graduate

Sudalaimani M Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 43 8th Pass

Suresh Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 30 Graduate Professional

Vedha Alias Dhamodharan

Cases Age Education

0 43 Doctorate

Venkateswaran V K Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 54 8th Pass

Vijayaprabhakaran V Rs 18,30,78,587 ~ 18 Crore+

Cases Age Education

0 33 Graduate Professional

Virudhunagar CANDIDATE LIST 2019

Candidate name Party/ Alliance Assets/ Liabilities

Manickam Tagore, B. Rs 36,00,203 ~ 36 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

1 44 Graduate Professional

Advocate.Thangapandian, M. Rs 1,00,000 ~ 1 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 35 12th Pass

Alagarsamy, N. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 32 Illiterate

Alagarsamy, R. Rs 3,38,783 ~ 3 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

3 47 10th Pass

Arulmozhithevan Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 36 Graduate Professional

Backiyaraj, K. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 49 5th Pass

Balachandar, N. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 33 8th Pass

Dr.Dhanushkodi, M. Rs 2,90,000 ~ 2 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 53 Post Graduate

Elango, S. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 34 5th Pass

Ganeshkumar, S. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

1 46 5th Pass

Govindan, A. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 54 8th Pass

Kalyanasundaram, A. Rs 7,76,000 ~ 7 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

7 39 Graduate

Kavitha, A. Rs 4,25,354 ~ 4 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 41 Post Graduate

Manikandan, R. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 35 5th Pass

Packiaraj, E. Rs 39,522 ~ 39 Thou+

Cases Age Education

0 35 Graduate

Palanichamy Kudumbar, P. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 31 Post Graduate

Paramasiva Iyyappan, S. Rs 78,36,152 ~ 78 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 45 12th Pass

Perumalsamy, M. Rs 60,000 ~ 60 Thou+

Cases Age Education

0 40 8th Pass

Sabari Ponraj, B. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 32 Graduate

Sakkaravarthy, P. Rs 30,00,000 ~ 30 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 59 Graduate

Sankaranarayanan, N. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 34 Others

Selvakumar, M. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 30 5th Pass

Senthilkumar, S. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 32 8th Pass

Sugan Rajeev, M. Rs 6,00,000 ~ 6 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 29 10th Pass

Thiagarajan, P.I.D. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 73 10th Pass

Umayorubagam, M. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

1 67 Graduate

Vallinayagam, N. Rs 3,80,000 ~ 3 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 37 Graduate

Virudhunagar CANDIDATE LIST 2014

Candidate name Party/ Alliance Assets/ Liabilities

Radhakrishnan Rs 52,73,447 ~ 52 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 59 10th Pass

K.samuvelraj Rs 74,000 ~ 74 Thou+

Cases Age Education

1 46 12th Pass

K.solairaj Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 49 10th Pass

Kamalavel Selvan Rs 46,496 ~ 46 Thou+

Cases Age Education

1 41 Graduate Professional

Kannan Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 38 5th Pass

Karthigaisamy, P. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

1 31 5th Pass

Lakshmi Gandan Rs 21,500 ~ 21 Thou+

Cases Age Education

4 29 Graduate Professional

M.satheesh Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 31 Graduate

Madhavan, P. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 40 5th Pass

Mahalingam Rs 8,10,000 ~ 8 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 38 5th Pass

Mammathan, M. Rs 89,100 ~ 89 Thou+

Cases Age Education

0 60 8th Pass

Manickam Tagore Rs 49,53,498 ~ 49 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

1 39 Graduate Professional

Marimuthu Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 44 10th Pass

Mohanraj Rs 15,50,000 ~ 15 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 62 Graduate

P.v.radhakrishnan Rs 1,45,000 ~ 1 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 51 Graduate

Palanichamy Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 28 Post Graduate

Palpandi, S. Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 30 Doctorate

Pandiarajan Rs 12,00,000 ~ 12 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 33 8th Pass

Pradeepkumar, D Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 30 Post Graduate

Rathinavelu Rs 43,84,420 ~ 43 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 71 Graduate Professional

Sankar Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 25 Post Graduate

Santhanakrishnan Rs 2,437 ~ 2 Thou+

Cases Age Education

0 37 10th Pass

Soundhirapandian Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 64 5th Pass

Suresh Gandhi Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 40 12th Pass

Thanuskodi Rs 5,62,000 ~ 5 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 49 Others

Vaiko Rs 1,37,545 ~ 1 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

6 69 Post Graduate

Virudhunagar CANDIDATE LIST 2009

Candidate name Party/ Alliance Assets/ Liabilities

MANICKA TAGORE Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 36 Graduate Professional

DHANUSHKODI M Rs 2,75,000 ~ 2 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 44 Others

JAWAHARLAL S.L Rs 12,60,000 ~ 12 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 45 Post Graduate

KANAGARAJ V Rs 11,08,626 ~ 11 Lacs+

Cases Age Education

0 60 Post Graduate

KANNAN S Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 33 5th Pass

KARTHIK M Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 49 Graduate

KARUNANIDHI A Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 34 8th Pass

NAMBUSAMY P Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 59 10th Pass

PADMANABAN N Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 54 Others

PANDIARAJAN K Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 50 Graduate

SELVAM D Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 33 Graduate

SETHURAJ J Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 45 12th Pass

SIVAKUMAR M.A Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 29 12th Pass

SIVANMANI P Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

0 33 10th Pass

VAIKO Rs 0 ~

Cases Age Education

3 65 Post Graduate

VIJAYAN S Rs 198 ~ 1 Hund+

Cases Age Education

0 40 8th Pass

Virudhunagar RESULTS IN PAST ELECTIONS

* Bye Election Result

Year

Winning Candidate

Party

2019

Manickam Tagore, B.

2014

Radhakrishnan

2009

Manicka Tagore