1997–98 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly by-elections

By-elections to Pudukottai constituency was held in Tamil Nadu on 8 February 1997. Elections for two state assembly constituencies, Coonoor and Aruppukottai were held on 22 February 1998.

Tamil Nadu assembly by-election, 1997/98

8 February 1997 and 22 February 1998
3 vacant seats in the Legislature of Tamil Nadu
First party Second party   Leader M. Karunanidhi J. Jayalalithaa Party DMK AIADMK Alliance United Front ADMK alliance Leader's seat Chepauk None Seats won 3 0 Seat change - - Popular vote 145,842 121,962 Percentage 41.2% 34.4%
Chief Minister before election M. Karunanidhi DMK Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi DMK

The results were a sweep for the DMK. However, all three seats were held by DMK from the 1996 election, and there was a significant improvement by the AIADMK, losing by very small margins in all three constituencies.

Constituents and Results

Source: Election Commission of India

Pudukottai

Tamil Nadu assembly by-election, 1997/98: Pudukottai

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	DMK	P. Mari Ayya	57,769	40.0%
	AIADMK	S. Chelladurai	45,745	31.7%
	MDMK	V.N. Mani	13,504	9.3%
	Independent	V.O.S. Panneerselvam	12,892	8.9%
	CPI(M)	P. Kumaravel	5,133	3.6%
Majority			12,024	8.3%
Turnout			144,523	66.8%
	DMK hold		Swing

Coonoor

Tamil Nadu assembly by-election, 1997/98: Coonoor

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	DMK	M. Ranganathan	47,850	48.2%
	AIADMK	S. Karuppusamy	37,945	38.2%
	INC	P. Arumugam	7,189	7.2%
	ATMK	G. Guruswami Siddhan	1,144	1.2%
Majority			9,905	10.0%
Turnout			99,348	58.5%
	DMK hold		Swing

Aruppukottai

Tamil Nadu assembly by-election, 1997/98: Aruppukottai

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	DMK	Thangam Thenarasu	40,223	36.5%
	AIADMK	V.S. Panchavarnam	38,272	89.40
	PT	P.T. Manickam	12,484	11.3%
	Independent	K. Palaniswamy	9,525	8.6%
	INC	K. Chandran	1,329	1.2%
Majority			1,951	1.8%
Turnout			110,183	65.9%
	DMK hold		Swing

See also

1. ECI By-election page