Press Release: Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026: Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details of Winning Candidates

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May 9, 2026, 2:42:27 AM (3 days ago) May 9

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Press Release

Date: May 9, 2026

Dear Friends,

Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Tamil Nadu Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 233 out of 234 winning candidates in the Tamil Nadu 2026 Assembly Elections. 1 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam winning candidate namely Dr. T. Arunkumar from Thiruvallur constituency was not analysed due to an unclear affidavit uploaded on the ECI website at the time of making of this report.

The full reports in English, Hindi and Tamil can be accessed here: https://adrindia.org/content/Tamil-Nadu-Assembly-Elections-2026-Criminal-and-Financial-background-details-of-Winning-Candidates

Figure: Final Party Position

Criminal Background

Winning Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of the 233 winning candidates analysed in 2026 126(54%) winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of 224 MLAs analysed during Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2021, 134(60%) MLAs had declared criminal cases against themselves.

Winning Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 56(24%) winning candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Out of 224 MLAs analysed during Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2021, 57 (25%) MLAs had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Figure: Comparison of declared criminal cases of MLAs of 2011, 2016, 2021 and winning candidates 2026

Winning Candidates with Declared Cases Related to Murder: 1 winning candidate has declared a case related to murder (IPC Section-302) against himself.

Winning Candidates with Declared Cases Related to Attempt to Murder: 6 winning candidates have declared cases related to Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves.

Winning Candidates with Declared Cases Related to Crime Against Women: 2 winning candidates have declared cases related to crime against women.

Party Wise Winning Candidates with Criminal Cases: 41(38%) out of 107 winning candidates from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, 37(63%) out of 59 winning candidates from DMK, 33 (70%) out of 47 winning candidates from AIADMK, 3 (60%) out of 5 winning candidates from INC, 4 (100%) out of 4 winning candidates from Pattali Makkal Katchi, 2 (100%) out of 2 winning candidates from CPI(M), 1 (50%) out of 2 winning candidates from CPI, 1 (50%) out of 2 winning candidates from Indian Union Muslim League, 2 (100%) out of 2 winning candidates from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, 1 (100%) out of 1 winning candidate from Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam and 1 (100%) out of 1 Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam winning candidate have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Party Wise Winning Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 19(18%) out of 107 winning candidates from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, 14(24%) out of 59 winning candidates from DMK, 14 (30%) out of 47 winning candidates from AIADMK, 2 (40%) out of 5 winning candidates from INC, 2 (50%) out of 4 winning candidates from Pattali Makkal Katchi, 1 (50%) out of 2 winning candidates from CPI, 1 (50%) out of 2 winning candidates from Indian Union Muslim League, 1 (50%) out of 2 winning candidates from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, 1 (100%) out of 1 winning candidate from Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam and 1 (100%) out of 1 Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam winning candidate have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Figure: Party Wise Percentage of Winning Candidates with Criminal Cases

Financial Background

Crorepati Winning Candidates: Out of the 233 winning candidates analysed, 193 (83%) are crorepatis. Out of 224 MLAs analysed during Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2021, 192 (86%) MLAs were crorepati.

Figure: Percentage of Crorepati MLAs 2011, 2016, 2021 and Winning Candidates 2026

Party-wise crorepati winning candidates: 77(72%) out of 107 winning candidates from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, 57(97%) out of 59 winning candidates from DMK, 44 (94%) out of 47 winning candidates from AIADMK, 5(100%) out of 5 winning candidates from INC, 4(100%) out of 4 winning candidates from Pattali Makkal Katchi, 2(100%) out of 2 winning candidates from Indian Union Muslim League, 1(50%) out of 2 winning candidates from CPI, 1(100%) out of 1 winning candidate from BJP, 1(100%) out of 1 winning candidate from Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam and 1(100%) out of 1 Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam winning candidate have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.

Figure: Party wise Percentage of Crorepati Winning Candidates

Share of Wealth Among Winning Candidates: The table given below shows the share of wealth among winning candidates in Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, 2026:

Value of assets (Rs.)	No. of winning candidates	Percentage of winning candidates
Rs. 10 crores and above	75	32%
Rs. 5 crores to Rs. 10 crores	36	16%
Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 5 crores	82	35%
Rs. 20 lakhs Rs. 1 crore	31	13%
less than Rs. 20 lakhs	9	4%

Table: Share of Wealth Among winning candidates

Total Assets of Winning Candidates: The total assets of 233 winning candidates are Rs. 11265 Crores.

Average Assets: The average of assets per winning candidates analysed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 is Rs 48.35 Crores. The average of assets per MLA in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2021 was Rs 12.27 crore.

Figure: Comparison of Average Assets (Rs. in Crores) 2011, 2016, 2021 vs 2026

Party Wise Average Assets: The average assets per winning candidate for 107 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam winning candidates is Rs 27.09 Crores, 59 DMK winning candidates have average assets of Rs 14.34 Crores, 47 AIADMK Winning candidates have average assets worth Rs 152.89 Crores, 5 INC Winning candidates have average assets worth Rs 17.81 Crores, 4 Pattali Makkal Katchi Winning candidates have average assets worth Rs 22.93 Crores, 2 Indian Union Muslim League Winning candidates have average assets worth Rs 4.40 Crores, 2 CPI Winning candidates have average assets worth Rs 4.00 Crores, 2 Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Winning candidates have average assets worth Rs 89.62 Lakhs and 2 CPI(M) Winning candidates have average assets of Rs. 68.04 Lakhs.

High Asset Winning Candidates: The top three winning candidates with high assets are given below:

S.No.	Name	District	Constituency	Party Name	Movable Assets (Rs)	Immovable Assets (Rs)	Total Assets (Rs)	PAN Given
1	Leemarose Martin	Tiruchirappalli	Lalgudi	AIADMK	36,27,20,21,371	22,36,52,64,767	58,63,72,86,138 5863 Crore+	Y
2	**C. Joseph Vijay	Chennai	Perambur	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	4,26,20,28,397	2,22,65,62,010	6,48,85,90,407 648 Crore+	Y
2	**C. Joseph Vijay	Tiruchirappalli	Tiruchirappalli (East)	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	4,26,20,28,397	2,22,65,62,010	6,48,85,90,407 648 Crore+	Y
3	Aadhav Arjuna	Chennai	Villivakkam	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	3,44,88,68,546	1,90,01,68,189	5,34,90,36,735 534 Crore+	Y

Table: Top three winning candidates with highest declared assets

** C. Joseph Vijay has contested from two constituencies and won from both constituencies.

Low Asset Winning Candidates: The details of three winning candidates with the lowest assets are given below:

S.No.	Name	District	Constituency	Party Name	Movable Assets (Rs)	Immovable Assets (Rs)	Total Assets (Rs)	PAN Given
1	Thahira	Ranipet	Ranipet	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	33,000	0	33,000 33 Thou+	Y
2	Sivakumar. K	Perambalur	Perambalur (SC)	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	1,96,106	0	1,96,106 1 Lacs+	Y
3	Marimuthu.K	Thiruvarur	Thiruthuraipoondi (SC)	CPI	5,41,326	1,75,000	7,16,326 7 Lacs+	Y

Table: Three winning candidates with lowest declared assets

Winning Candidates with High Liabilities: 89 winning candidates have declared liabilities of Rs 1 crore and above, and the details of the top 3 winning candidates are as follows:

S.No.	Name	District	Constituency	Party Name	Total Assets (Rs)	Liabilities (Rs)	Disputed liabilities (Rs)	PAN Given
1	Leemarose Martin	Tiruchirappalli	Lalgudi	AIADMK	58,63,72,86,138 5863 Crore+	3,40,18,43,738 340 Crore+	77,19,78,903 77 Crore+	Y
2	Murughan.R.S.	Tirunelveli	Tirunelveli	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	1,58,48,56,190 158 Crore+	58,91,61,187 58 Crore+	81,71,17,663 81 Crore+	Y
3	Premallatha Vijayakant	Cuddalore	Vridhachalam	Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam	94,57,76,764 94 Crore+	57,81,10,656 57 Crore+	23,64,38,999 23 Crore+	Y

Table: Top three winning candidates with high liabilities

Winning Candidates with High Income as Declared in ITR*: The table below shows 3 winning candidates who have declared highest income in their Income Tax Returns.

S.No.	Name	Party Name	Constituency	District	Total Assets (Rs)	Self Source of Income	Spouse's Source of Income	The financial year for which the last income tax return has been filed by winning candidates	Total income shown by winning candidates in ITR (Self+Spouse+Dependent) (Rs)	Self-income shown by winning candidates in ITR (Rs)
1	**C. Joseph Vijay	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	Tiruchirappalli (East)	Tiruchirappalli	6,48,85,90,407 648 Crore+	Self Employed, Interest and Rental Income from Properties	Housewife	2024-2025	1,84,53,56,290 184 Crore+	1,84,53,56,290 184 Crore+
1	**C. Joseph Vijay	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	Perambur	Chennai	6,48,85,90,407 648 Crore+	Self-Employment, Interest and Rental Income from Properties	House Wife	2024-2025	1,84,53,56,290 184 Crore+	1,84,53,56,290 184 Crore+
2	Leemarose Martin	AIADMK	Lalgudi	Tiruchirappalli	58,63,72,86,138 5863 Crore+	Rental Income, Share of Profit from Firms/ LLP, Capital Gains and Interest Income	Rental Income, Business Income, Share of Profit from Firms /LLP, Capital Gains, Interest and Dividend Income	2024-2025	40,78,26,330 40 Crore+	9,82,44,850 9 Crore+
3	Aadhav Arjuna	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam	Villivakkam	Chennai	5,34,90,36,735 534 Crore+	Business	Business and Income from Properties	2024-2025	17,96,59,160 17 Crore+	11,10,73,590 11 Crore+

Table: Top 3 winning candidates with high income as declared in income tax returns

*Total income includes income of self, spouse and dependents

** C. Joseph Vijay has contested from two constituencies and won from both constituencies.

Other Background Details

Education Details of Winning Candidates: 85(36%) winning candidates have declared their educational qualification between 5^th pass and 12^th pass while 139 (60%) winning candidates have declared having an educational qualification of Graduate and above and 9 winning candidates are Diploma holders.

Age Details of Winning Candidates: 49(21%) winning candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 40 years while 123 (53%) winning candidates have declared their age to be between 41 and 60 years. There are 61 (26%) winning candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years.

Gender Details of Winning Candidates: Out of 233 winning candidates analysed, 23 (10%) winning candidates are women. In 2021, out of 224 MLAs analysed, 12 (5%) MLAs were women.