Sundar C to Contest from Madurai Central in 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls, Announces AC Shanmugam
Puthiya Needhi Katchi fields actor-director Sundar C in AIADMK-led NDA alliance; DMK’s PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan likely to face challenge again
Chennai/Madurai: Actor-director Sundar C is set to enter the electoral fray in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with A. C. Shanmugam announcing his candidature from the Madurai Central constituency.
Sundar C, who is also the husband of BJP functionary Khushbu Sundar, will contest on behalf of the Puthiya Needhi Katchi (PNK), a constituent of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state.
In a formal statement, Shanmugam said the party had been allotted two constituencies as part of its alliance arrangement with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. “We are pleased to announce Sundar C as the candidate for Madurai Central constituency in the 2026 Assembly elections,” he said, confirming that the filmmaker would represent the party in one of the key urban seats in southern Tamil Nadu.
The announcement comes amid early positioning by alliance partners ahead of what is expected to be a tightly contested election, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam seeking to retain its strongholds and the opposition alliance attempting to make inroads.
Madurai Central has been a significant constituency in recent electoral cycles. Senior DMK leader PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan won the seat in both the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections and later served as Tamil Nadu’s Finance Minister and IT Minister. He has reportedly expressed interest in recontesting from the same constituency in 2026, setting the stage for a high-profile contest.
Shanmugam further indicated that the second candidate of the party would be unveiled at a press conference in Chennai on March 30, with details of the constituency allocation to be announced shortly.
Sundar C’s entry reflects a continuing trend in Tamil Nadu politics, where film personalities often transition into electoral roles, leveraging public recognition and grassroots appeal. Known for directing and acting in films such as Thalainagaram, Veerappu, and Aindhaam Padai, his candidature is expected to draw attention, particularly among urban and younger voters.
With both alliances beginning to declare candidates, the political temperature in Tamil Nadu is set to rise in the coming weeks as parties consolidate strategies ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.