Senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader A. M. H. Nazeem is trailing in the Karaikal South assembly constituency as vote counting continues for the 30-seat Puducherry Assembly elections. According to the latest trends, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate M. Arul Murugan is leading in the seat, indicating a closely watched contest in the region.
Nazeem, a sitting MLA from Karaikal South and a former health minister, has been a prominent figure in Puducherry politics for decades. Known for his strong political base in the Karaikal region, he has held multiple roles, including ministerial responsibilities and Leader of the Opposition in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly. His current trailing position marks a significant development in an otherwise consistent electoral career.
He began his political journey in 1983 and was first elected to the Puducherry Legislative Assembly from Karaikal North in 1990. He retained the seat in subsequent elections in 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006. During the 1996 DMK government, Nazeem served as Health Minister, overseeing key public health initiatives. In 2006, he was appointed Leader of the Opposition, further cementing his role in the territory’s political landscape.
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Following constituency reorganisation, Nazeem contested from Karaikal South in 2011 and secured a victory. However, the 2016 election saw him lose by a narrow margin of just 20 votes, one of the closest contests in the constituency’s history. He later staged a comeback in the 2021 election, defeating the same opponent and re-establishing his presence in the assembly.
The Karaikal South Assembly constituency, located in Karaikal district, is part of the Puducherry Lok Sabha constituency and has a voter base of over 31,000 electors. Established in 1964, the general (unreserved) seat has witnessed shifting political dominance over the decades, with leaders from parties such as AIADMK, Congress, and regional outfits holding sway at different times. As counting progresses, the outcome in Karaikal South remains a key indicator of broader electoral trends in Puducherry.
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