The Congress party not only drew a blank in the 39 constituencies of Tamil Nadu but the deposits of 38 of its candidates were forfeited.
Only H. Vasantha Kumar, the party's candidate in Kanyakumari district, was able to save his deposit, being runner-up to BJP's state president Pon Radhakrishnan.
The owner of consumer retail chain Vasanth & Co and a television channel Vasanth TV, Kumar secured 2,44,244 votes. He lost to Radhakrishnan by a margin of 1,28,662 votes.
Interestingly, Congress president Sonia Gandhi campaigned only for him in the state.
On the other hand, Su. Thirunavukkarasar contesting from Ramanathapuram, secured only 62,160 votes despite Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's campaign.
The Congress secured 17,51,123 votes in Tamil Nadu, translating to 4.3 percent vote share in the state.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app