2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election
The twelfth legislative assembly election of Tamil Nadu was held on 10 May 2001. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam -led front won the elections and its leader, J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister, even though she could not legally run as MLA in this election. She was unanimously nominated as Chief Minister by her party and was ready to serve her second term. But due to criminal and corruption charges from her first term, on 21 September 2001, a five-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court of India ruled in a unanimous verdict that "a person who is convicted for a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of not less than two years cannot be appointed the Chief Minister of a State under Article 164 read with and cannot continue to function as such". Thereby, the bench decided that "in the appointment of Ms. Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister there has been a clear infringement of a Constitutional provision and that a writ of quo warranto must issue". In effect her appointment as Chief Minister was declared null and invalid with retrospective effect. Therefore, technically, she was not the Chief Minister in the period between 14 May 2001 and 21 September 2001. After her resignation on 21 September 2001, she put in O. Panneerselvam, as the official 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, until she could clear up the charges from her first term, so she can take up the mantle of Chief Minister officially, on 2 March 2002.
Background and Coalition
The incumbent party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, finished its full 5 terms, for the first time since winning the 1971 state assembly election. According to various sources and exit polls, the incumbent party was supposed to retain power, due to the popularity of its leader M. Karunanidhi. Due to the anti-incumbency factor, problems of development cited by the people in many areas of Tamil Nadu, and a broad coalition formed by ADMK, including Tamil Maanila Congress, who left the alliance of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, because they joined BJP and the National Democratic Alliance, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Indian National Congress and the left parties, the ADMK led front, with its leader J. Jayalalithaa, won by a landslide, sweeping across the state.The coalition at the ADMK led-center would prove to be short-lived, since in less than a year, Pattali Makkal Katchi, and its leader Dr. Ramdoss, left the coalition, citing authoritarian type rule by J. Jayalalithaa. Also the Tamil Maanila Congress, who proved to be an important ally for the victory of ADMK, would later merge with Indian National Congress, who would later support DMK led front in future elections. The left parties would also end up joining the DMK led front, leaving the ADMK after this election.
No more election have been conducted by DMK.
Seat allotments
Source: Various SourcesDMK-NDA Alliance
AIADMK-INC Alliance
Opinion polling
Exit polls
Results
Results by Pre-Poll Alliance
Constituency wise results
| Assembly Constituency | Party | Winner | Runner-up | Party | Margin | |
| Acharapakkam | PMK | A. Selvaraj** | T. D. R. Murugesan | DMK | 15,478 | |
| Alandur | ADMK | B. Valarmathi | R. Veerappan | MGRK | 12,596 | |
| Alangudi | ADMK | A. Venkadachalam | S. A. Soosairaj | DMK | 16,731 | |
| Alangulam | ADMK | P. G. Rajendran | Aladi Aruna | DMK | 4,111 | |
| Ambasamudram | ADMK | M. Sakthivel Murugan | R. Avudaiyappan | DMK | 4,020 | |
| Anaicut | ADMK | K. Pandurangan | G. Malarvizhi | DMK | 21,051 | |
| Andhiyur | PMK | R. Krishnan | P. Selvarasu | DMK | 18,062 | |
| Andimadam | PMK | J. Gurunathan | M. Gnanamoorthy | DMK | 27,002 | |
| Andipatti | AIADMK | Thanga Tamil Selvan* | P. Asaiyan | DMK | 25,009 | |
| Anna Nagar | DMK | Arcot N. Veeraswami | C. Arumugam | PMK | 5,578 | |
| Arkonam | ADMK | K. Bhavani Karunakaran | R. Ravishankar | DMK | 20,256 | |
| Arantangi | MADMK | P. Arasan | A. Chandrasekaran | INC | 20,018 | |
| Aravakurichi | ADMK | E. A. Liyaudeen Sait | Lakshmi Duraisamy | DMK | 18,326 | |
| Arcot | ADMK | P. Neelakandan | A. K. Sundaramoorthy | DMK | 17,707 | |
| Ariyalur | ADMK | P. Elavazhagan | T. A. Kathiravan | DMK | 10,379 | |
| Arni | ADMK | K. Ramachandran | A. C. Shanmugam | PNK | 13,482 | |
| Aruppukottai | ADMK | K. K. Sivasamy | Thangam Thennarasu | DMK | 6,152 | |
| Athoor | ADMK | P. K. T. Natarajaan | I. Periyasamy | DMK | 3,606 | |
| Attur | ADMK | A. K. Murugesan | Mu. Ra. Karunanidhi | DMK | 24,745 | |
| Avanashi | ADMK | S. Mahalingam | M. Mohan Kumar | IND | 21,012 | |
| Bargur | ADMK | M. Thambidurai | E. G. Sugavanam | DMK | 49,306 | |
| Bhavani | ADMK | K. C. Karuppannan | J. Sudhanandhan | PNK | 32,859 | |
| Bhavanisagar | ADMK | P. Chithambaram | O. Subramaniam | DMK | 10,275 | |
| Bhuvanagiri | IND | P. S. Arul | M. Gopalakrishnan | MTD | 3,764 | |
| Bodinayakkanur | ADMK | S. Ramaraj | A. Sudalaimuthu | DMK | 11,278 | |
| Chengalpattu | PMK | K. Arumugam | V. Viswanathan | DMK | 5,149 | |
| Chengam | INC | M. Polur Varadhan | R. Shamala | MTD | 12,277 | |
| Chepauk | DMK | M. Karunanidhi | R. Damodharan | INC | 4,834 | |
| Cheranmahadevi | ADMK | P. H. Paul Manoj Pandian | N. Chockalingam | BJP | 10,975 | |
| Cheyyar | PMK | P. S. Ulagarakshagan | R. K. P. Rajarajan | DMK | 12,085 | |
| Chidambaram | DMK | K. Saravanan Durai | T. Arivuselvan | PMK | 11,915 | |
| Chinnasalem | ADMK | P. Mohan | R. Mookappan | DMK | 9,112 | |
| Coimbatore East | TMC | V. K. Lakshmanan | N. R. Nanjappan | BJP | 3,211 | |
| Coimbatore West | INC | S. Maheswari | C. T. Dhandapani | DMK | 10,091 | |
| Colachel | ADMK | T. Pachamal | R. Sambath Chandra | MDMK | 15,089 | |
| Coonoor | TMC | K. Kandaswamy | E. M. Mahaliappan | DMK | 16,644 | |
| Cuddalore | DMK | E. Pugazhendi | P. R. S. Venkatesan | TMC | 34 | |
| Cumbum | TMC | O. R. Ramachandran | N. K. R. Krishnakumar | BJP | 4,386 | |
| Dharapuram | PMK | V. Sivakami | R. Saraswathi | DMK | 22,152 | |
| Dharmapuri | PMK | K. Pary Mohan | K. Manoharan | DMK | 10,974 | |
| Dindigul | CPI | K. Nagalakshimi | M. Basheer Ahmed | DMK | 2,779 | |
| Edapadi | PMK | I. Ganesan | A. Kandasamy | DMK | 30,811 | |
| Egmore | DMK | Parithi Ellamvazhuthi | B. John Pandian | ADMK | 86 | |
| Erode | ADMK | K. S. Thennarasu | N. K. K. Periyasamy | DMK | 24,440 | |
| Gingee | ADMK | V. Elumalai | Rajendran | DMK | 29,086 | |
| Gobichettipalayam | ADMK | S. S. Ramaneedharan | V. P. Shanmugasundaram | DMK | 28,945 | |
| Gudalur | ADMK | A. Miller | M. Pandiaraj | DMK | 32,693 | |
| Gudiyatham | ADMK | C. M. Suryakala | S. Duraisamy | DMK | 24,324 | |
| Gummidipundi | ADMK | K. S. Vijayakumar | K. Venu | DMK | 24,958 | |
| Harbour | DMK | K. Anbazhagan | D. Pandian | CPI | 336 | |
| Harur | CPI | V. Krishnamoorthy | D. Periyasamy | DMK | 33,479 | |
| Hosur | INC | K. Gopinath | B. Venkatasamy | BJP | 6,489 | |
| Ilaiyangudi | ADMK | V. D. Nadarajan | S. Kannappan | MTD | 4,682 | |
| Jayankondam | ADMK | S. Annadurai | K. C. Ganesan | DMK | 25,010 | |
| Kadaladi | TMC | S. Balakrishnan | S. P. Thangavelan | DMK | 6,115 | |
| Kadayanallur | ADMK | M. Subbiah Pandian | P. M. Shahul | DMK | 1,244 | |
| Kalasapakkam | ADMK | S. Ramachandran | P. S. Thiruvengadam | DMK | 28,890 | |
| Kancheepuram | ADMK | T. Mythili | A. Sekar | DMK | 23,603 | |
| Kandamangalam | ADMK | V. Subramanian | E. Vijayaraghavan | DMK | 22,628 | |
| Kangayam | ADMK | M. Selvi | N. Rajkumar Mandradiar | DMK | 11,274 | |
| Kanniyakumari | ADMK | N. Thalavaisundaram | N. Suresh Rajan | DMK | 9,536 | |
| Kapilamalai | PMK | A. R. Malaiyappasamy | S. Gandhiselvan | DMK | 4,312 | |
| Karaikudi | BJP | H. Raja | S. P. Udayappan | TMC | 1,651 | |
| Karur | INC | T. N. Sivasubramanian | Vasuki Murugesan | DMK | 23,438 | |
| Katpadi | DMK | Durai Murugan | A. K. Natarajan | PMK | 8,002 | |
| Kattumannarkoil | DMK | P. Vallalperuman | R. Sachidanandam | INC | 16,517 | |
| Kaveripattinam | ADMK | K. P. Munusamy | V. C. Govindasami | DMK | 18,517 | |
| Killiyoor | TMC | D. Kumaradas | C. Santhakumar | BJP | 13,760 | |
| Kinathukadavu | ADMK | S. Damodaran | M. Shanmugam | DMK | 33,780 | |
| Kolathur | ADMK | A. Karuppayee | Palaniappan | PT | 46,899 | |
| Kovilpatti | CPI | S. Rajendran | K. Rajaram | DMK | 9,039 | |
| Krishnagiri | ADMK | V. Govindarasu | T. Senguttuvan | DMK | 21,773 | |
| Krishnarayapuram | ADMK | Sasikala | S. Periyasamy | DMK | 21,549 | |
| Kulithalai | ADMK | A. Pappasundaram | D. Thirunavukkarasu | DMK | 16,766 | |
| Kumbakonam | DMK | Ko. Si. Mani | Rama Ramanathan | ADMK | 6,496 | |
| Kurinjipadi | DMK | M. R. K. Panneer Selvam | K. Sivasubramanian | ADMK | 23,863 | |
| Kuttalam | ADMK | Natarajan | P. Kalyanam | DMK | 2,644 | |
| Lalgudi | ADMK | S. M. Balan | K. N. Nehru | DMK | 1,610 | |
| Madurai Central | TMC | M. A. Hakkem | S. Paulraj | DMK | 147 | |
| Madurai East | CPI | N. Nanmaran | V. Velusamu | DMK | 5,304 | |
| Madurai West | ADMK | Valarmathi Jebaraj | P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan | DMK | 708 | |
| Maduranthakam | ADMK | P. Vasudevan | S. D. Ugamchand | DMK | 11,694 | |
| Manamadurai | TMC | K. Paramalai | S. P. Kirubanidhi | BJP | 20,857 | |
| Mangalore | DMK | V. Ganesan | S. Puratchimani | TMC | 1,855 | |
| Mannargudi | CPI | V. Sivapunniyam | S. Gnanasekaran | BJP | 20,190 | |
| Marungapuri | ADMK | V. A. Chelliah | B. M. Senguttuvan | DMK | 25,272 | |
| Mayiladuturai | BJP | Jaga Veerapandian | R. Selvaraj | ADMK | 2,452 | |
| Mettur | ADMK | S. Sundarambal | P. Gopal | DMK | 8,135 | |
| Melmalaiyanur | ADMK | R. Tamilmozhi | A. Gnanasekaran | DMK | 24,587 | |
| Melur | AIADMK | R. Samy | Samayanallur S. Selvaraj | DMK | 26,838 | |
| Mettupalayam | ADMK | A. K. Selvaraj | B. Arun Kumar | DMK | 41,078 | |
| Modakkurichi | ADMK | P. C. Ramasami | Subbulakshmi Jegadeesan | DMK | 34,212 | |
| Morappur | ADMK | P. Palaniappan | E. V. Rajasekaran | DMK | 23,316 | |
| Mudukulathur | ADMK | K. Patinetampatian | S. Pandian | MTD | 2,669 | |
| Mugaiyur | ADMK | G. Gothandaraman | A. G. Sampath | DMK | 10,341 | |
| Musiri | ADMK | C. Malliga | S. Vivekandan | DMK | 1,994 | |
| Mylapore | BJP | K. N. Lakshmanan | V. Maitreyan | ADMK | 6,047 | |
| Nagapattinam | ADMK | R. Jeevanantham | S. P. Thangaiya | DMK | 16,717 | |
| Nagercoil | MADMK | suyambu | M. Moses | TMC | 3,662 | |
| Namakkal | INC | K. Jeyakumar | S. Ahilan | PT | 28,992 | |
| Nanguneri | ADMK | S. Manickaraj | V. Ramachandran | MTD | 9,161 | |
| Nannilam | TMC | C. K. Amizharasan | P. Sakthivel | DMK | 19,212 | |
| Natham | ADMK | R. Viswanathan | Ku. Pa. Krishnan | TB | 10,602 | |
| Natrampalli | PMK | S. Natarajan | T. Anbazhagan | MGRK | 12,088 | |
| Nellikkuppam | ADMK | M. C. Sampath | V. C. Shanmugham | DMK | 7,382 | |
| Nilakottai | ADMK | G. Anbazhagan | K. Ayyar | PT | 31,494 | |
| Oddanchatram | DMK | A. R. A. Chakkarapani | A. T. Sellasamy | ADMK | 1,369 | |
| Omalur | ADMK | S. Semmalai | Era. Rajendran | DMK | 31,602 | |
| Orathanad | ADMK | R. Vaithilingam | P. Rajamanickam | DMK | 19,844 | |
| Ottapidaram | ADMK | A. Sivaperumal | K. Krishnasamy | PT | 651 | |
| Padmanabhapuram | ADMK | K. P. Raajendraprasad | C. Velayudhan | BJP | 2,774 | |
| Palacode | AIADMK | K. P. Anbalagan | G. L. Venkatachalam | DMK | 40,232 | |
| Palani | ADMK | M. Chinnasamy | T. Poovendhan | DMK | 20,487 | |
| Palayamkottai | DMK | T. P. M. Mohideen Khan | S. Muthu Karuppan | ADMK | 14,748 | |
| Palladam | ADMK | S. M. Velusamy | S. S. Ponmudi | DMK | 32,474 | |
| Pallipattu | ADMK | P. M. Narasimhan | M. Chakravarthy | BJP | 28,240 | |
| Panamarathupatti | ADMK | Vijayalakshmi Palanisamy | S. R. Sivalingam | DMK | 42,350 | |
| Panruti | PMK | T. Velmurugan | V. Ramaswamy | DMK | 5,048 | |
| Papanasam | TMC | M. Ramkumar | S. Kalyanasundaram | DMK | 6,632 | |
| Paramakudi | TMC | R. Ramprabhu | S. Chelliah | PT | 5,807 | |
| Park Town | TMC | S. G. Vinayagamurthi | T. Rajendhar | DMK | 6,377 | |
| Pattukkottai | TMC | N. R. Rengarajan | P. Balasubramanian | DMK | 6,950 | |
| Pennagaram | PMK | G. K. Mani | K. N. Periannan | IND | 14,396 | |
| Perambalur | ADMK | P. Rajarethinam | S. Vallaban | DMK | 20,004 | |
| Perambur | CPI | K. Mahendran | Chengai Sivam | DMK | 17,223 | |
| Peravurani | TMC | S. V. Thirugnana Sambandham | Kuzha Chelliah | DMK | 28,659 | |
| Periyakulam | ADMK | O. Panneer Selvam | M. Abuthahir | DMK | 17,920 | |
| Peranamallur | ADMK | A. K. S. Anbalagan | B. Bose | MTD | 8,359 | |
| Pernambut | ADMK | S. C. Kanagathara | S. Thondral Nayagan | BJP | 28,855 | |
| Perundurai | ADMK | K. S. Palanisamy | N. Govindasamy | CNMK | 31,712 | |
| Perur | ADMK | M. A. P. A. Krishnakumar | N. Nageswari | DMK | 35,264 | |
| Pollachi | ADMK | V. Jayaraman | R. Tamil Mani | DMK | 32,404 | |
| Polur | ADMK | Nalini Manoharan | C. Elumalai | DMK | 10,807 | |
| Pongalur | ADMK | P. V. Damodaran | K. Chellamuthu | IND | 21,815 | |
| Ponneri | CPI | A. S. Kannan | K. Sundaram | DMK | 27,390 | |
| Poombuhar | ADMK | N. Renganathan | M. Mohammad Siddiq | DMK | 7,455 | |
| Poonamallee | PMK | S. Shanmugam | S. Chezhiyan | DMK | 2,316 | |
| Pudukkottai | ADMK | C. Vijayabaskar | Arasu Periyannan | DMK | 28,183 | |
| Purasawalkam | TMC | B. Ranganathan | P. Vetrivel | TMC | 3,802 | |
| Dr.Radhakrishnan Nagar | ADMK | P. K. Sekar Babu | S. P. Sarguna Pandian | DMK | 27,332 | |
| Radhapuram | IND | M. Appavu | S. Jothi | PMK | 18,281 | |
| Rajapalayam | ADMK | M. Rajasekar | V. P. Rajan | DMK | 9,595 | |
| Ramanathapuram | ADMK | A. Anwer Rhazza | A. Rahman Khan | DMK | 9,112 | |
| Ranipet | ADMK | M. S. Chandrasekaran | R. Gandhi | DMK | 24,963 | |
| Rasipuram | ADMK | P. R. Sundaram | K. P. Ramalingam | DMK | 23,029 | |
| Royapuram | ADMK | D. Jayakumar | K. Nargunan | DMK | 13,712 | |
| Rishivandiyam | TMC | S. Sivaraj | T. K. T. Murali | PNK | 25,532 | |
| Saidapet | DMK | V. Perumal** | C. R. Baskaran | PMK | 3,881 | |
| Salem – I | ADMK | Se. Venkatajalam | M. A. Elangovan | DMK | 25,131 | |
| Salem – II | PMK | M. Karthe | A. L. Thangavel | DMK | 15,085 | |
| Samayanallur | ADMK | P. Ponnampalam | Kasthuri Sivasamy | DMK | 19,924 | |
| Sankaranayanarkoil | ADMK | C. Karuppasamy | P. Duraisamy | PT | 9,262 | |
| Sankarapuram | PMK | P. Kasampu | T. Udhayasuriyan | DMK | 1,018 | |
| Sankari | ADMK | P. Dhanabal | T. R. Saravanan | DMK | 22,952 | |
| Sathyamangalam | ADMK | K. R. Kandasamy | S. K. Rajendran | DMK | 33,434 | |
| Sathangulam | TMC | S. S. Mani Nadar | A. N. Rajakkannan | BJP | 5,766 | |
| Sattur | DMK | K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran | A. Rajendran | INC | 4,415 | |
| Sedapatti | ADMK | C. Durairaj | P. V. Bhaktavatchalam | PT | 18,435 | |
| Sendamangalam | ADMK | K. Kalavathi | Chinumathi Chandrasekaran | DMK | 17,815 | |
| Sholavandan | ADMK | V. R. Rajangam | P. Moorthy | DMK | 19,841 | |
| Sholinghur | ADMK | R. Vilvanathan | A. M. Ponnurangam | PNK | 9,795 | |
| Singanallur | CPI | K. C. Karunakaran | N. Palanisamy | DMK | 20,001 | |
| Sirkazhi | ADMK | N. Chandramohan | J. Irai Ezhil | DMK | 4,430 | |
| Sivaganga | ADMK | V. Chandran | Tha Pasumpon Kiruttinan | DMK | 4,273 | |
| Sivakasi | TMC | A. Rajagopal | V. Thangaraj | DMK | 5,721 | |
| Sriperumbudur | INC | D. Yasodha | M. Raghavan | DMK | 17,193 | |
| Srirangam | ADMK | K. K. Balasubramanian | M. Soundrapandian | BJP | 12,676 | |
| Srivaikuntam | ADMK | S. P. Shanmuganathan | S. David Selwyn | DMK | 2,886 | |
| Srivilliputhur | ADMK | Inbathtamilan | S. Mohanrajulu | BJP | 9,174 | |
| Talavasal | ADMK | V. Alagammal | M. Pandiyarajan | DMK | 27,857 | |
| Tambaram | DMK | M. A. Vaidialingam | K. Chakkarapani Reddiar | TMC | 5,431 | |
| Taramangalam | PMK | M. P. Kamaraj | S. Ammasi | DMK | 25,458 | |
| Tenkasi | ADMK | K. Annamalai | V. Karuppasamy Pandian | DMK | 8,792 | |
| Thalli | BJP | K. V. Murali Dharan | S. Raja Reddy | CPI | 6,217 | |
| Thandarambattu | DMK | E. V. Velu | K. Manivarma | TMC | 4,837 | |
| Thanjavur | DMK | S. N. M. Ubayadullah | R. Rajmohan | INC | 9,590 | |
| Theagaraya Nagar | DMK | J. Anbazhagan | E. V. K. Sulochana Sampath | ADMK | 2,499 | |
| Theni | AIADMK | D. Ganesan | L. Mookiah | DMK | 13,861 | |
| Thirumangalam | ADMK | K. Kalimuthu | T. Ocha Thevar | DMK | 18,162 | |
| Thirupparankundram | ADMK | S. M. Seenivel | C. Ramachandran | DMK | 9,127 | |
| Thiruverambur | DMK | K. N. Sekaran | T. K. Rangarajan | CPM | 10,373 | |
| Thiruvidamarudur | ADMK | G. Thavamani | S. Ramalingam | DMK | 7,372 | |
| Thiruvonam | ADMK | C. Rajendran | M. Ramachandran | DMK | 11,223 | |
| Thiruvottiyur | ADMK | T. Arumugam | Kumari Anandan | IND | 34,041 | |
| Thondamuthur | TMC | S. R. Balasubramoniyan | V. R. Sukanya | DMK | 28,536 | |
| Thottiam | ADMK | P. Annavi | K. Kannaiyan | DMK | 13,148 | |
| Thousand Lights | DMK | M. K. Stalin | S. Sekar | TMC | 7,274 | |
| Tindivanam | ADMK | C. Ve. Shanmugam | R. Sethunathan | DMK | 12,148 | |
| Tiruchendur | ADMK | Anitha R. Radhakrishnan | S. Jennifer Chandran | DMK | 11,193 | |
| Tiruchengode | ADMK | C. Ponnaiyan | T. P. Arumugam | DMK | 44,109 | |
| Tiruchirappalli – I | DMK | B. Paranikumar | M. Kader Mohideen | MUL | 924 | |
| Tiruchirappalli – II | DMK | Anbil Periyasamy | P. C. Selvaraj | INC | 13,944 | |
| Tirumayam | ADMK | M. Radakrishnan | S. Regupathy | DMK | 12,027 | |
| Tirunavalur | ADMK | K. G. P. Gnanamoorthy | A. J. Manikannan | DMK | 14,773 | |
| Tirunelveli | ADMK | N. Nainar Nagendran | A. L. Subramanian | DMK | 722 | |
| Tiruppattur | ADMK | K. K. Umadhevan | R. Sivaraman | DMK | 9,090 | |
| Tiruppattur | PMK | T. K. Raja | S. Arasu | DMK | 5,761 | |
| Tirupporur | ADMK | S. Kanitha Sampath | C. Nagarajan | DMK | 24,790 | |
| Tiruppur | ADMK | C. Sivasami | Lalitha Kumaramangalam | BJP | 46,556 | |
| Tiruttani | PMK | G. Raviraj | E. A. P. Shivaji | DMK | 13,874 | |
| Tiruthuraipundi | CPI | G. Palanisamy | M. Poonguzhali | DMK | 25,059 | |
| Tiruvadanai | TMC | K. R. Ramasamy | Jones Russo | IND | 2,304 | |
| Tiruvaiyaru | ADMK | Ayyaru Vandayar | Durai Chandrasekaran | DMK | 15,689 | |
| Tiruvallur | TMC | D. Sudharsanam | V. G. Rajendiran | PNK | 19,951 | |
| Tiruvannamalai | DMK | K. Pitchandi | M. Shanmugasundaram | PMK | 4,090 | |
| Tiruvarur | DMK | A. Asokan | K. Rangasamy | CPM | 1,314 | |
| Thiruvattar | CPI | J. Hemachandran | P. Rajamony | BJP | 19,497 | |
| Triplicane | DMK | S. A. M. Hussain | S. Rajakumar | INC | 3,676 | |
| Tuticorin | ADMK | S. Rajammal | N. Periasamy | DMK | 16,186 | |
| Udagamandalam | INC | H. M. Raju | J. Hutchi Gowder | BJP | 29,090 | |
| Udumalpet | ADMK | C. Shanmugavelu | D. Selvaraj | DMK | 39,908 | |
| Ulundurpet | ADMK | N. Ramu | K. Thirunavukkarasu | DMK | 22,754 | |
| Uppiliyapuram | ADMK | R. Saroja | R. Rani | DMK | 12,351 | |
| Usilampatti | FBL | L. Santhanam | S. O. Ramasamy | DMK | 9,067 | |
| Uthiramerur | ADMK | V. Somasundaram | K. Sundar | DMK | 27,622 | |
| Valangiman | ADMK | Boopathi Mariappan | T. Nadaiazhagan | PT | 23,477 | |
| Valparai | TMC | Kovai Thangam | K. Krishnaswamy | PT | 17,915 | |
| Vandavasi | PMK | K. Murugavelrajan | K. Loganathan | DMK | 8,871 | |
| Vaniyambadi** | IND | M. Abdul Latheef | J. M. Haroon Rasheed | DMK | 11,938 | |
| Vanur | ADMK | N. Ganapathy | R. Mydili | DMK | 21,349 | |
| Varahur | ADMK | A. Arunachalam | K. Thiruvalluvan | DMK | 13,904 | |
| Vasudevanallur | TMC | R. Easwaran | S. Thangapandian | PT | 11,552 | |
| Vedaranyam | DMK | S. K. Vedarathinam | R. Mutharasan | CPI | 15,000 | |
| Vedasandur | ADMK | P. Andivel | R. Kavitha Parthipan | DMK | 19,126 | |
| Veerapandi | ADMK | S. K. Selvam | Veerapandy S. Arumugam | DMK | 30,012 | |
| Vellakoil | DMK | M. P. Saminathan | V. P. Periasamy | ADMK | 740 | |
| Vellore | TMC | C. Gnanasekaran | A. M. Ramalingam | DMK | 11,124 | |
| Veilathikulam | ADMK | N. K. Perumal | R. K. P. Rajasekaran | DMK | 15,243 | |
| Vilavancode | CPI | D. Mony | P. Jeevaraj | DMK | 22,919 | |
| Villivakkam | DMK | D. Napoleon | A. Chellakumar | TMC | 9,230 | |
| Villupuram | DMK | K. Ponmudy | R. Pasupathy | PMK | 2,205 | |
| Virudhunagar | TMC | S. Damodharan | A. R. R. Seenivasan | DMK | 4,017 | |
| Vridhachalam | PMK | R. Govindasamy | Kuzhandai Thamizharasan | DMK | 7,128 | |
| Yercaud | AIADMK | E. Elayakannu | K. Govindan | BJP | 33,985 |
- Thanga Tamilselvan, AIADMK legislator from Andipatti, resigned his seat in 2002, to enable Jayalalithaa to contest here. This enabled her to win in a by election in Andipatti, and be Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. She succeeded O. Panneerselvam who took over as chief minister for 6 months, until Jayalalithaa's corruption charges were cleared in court.
- Due to the death of V. Perumal, actor turned politician Radha Ravi was fielded by ADMK, and defeated the DMK candidate Subramanian, in a by-election, increasing the majority of the ADMK.
- During 31 May 2002, By-election, A. Boovaraghamoorthy of the AIADMK, defeated D. Parvendhan of PMK, which resulted in AIADMK to pick up Acharapakkam.