The AIADMK has nominated M. C. Sampath from Cuddalore for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026, where he will take on TVK candidate V. Rajkumar in the electoral contest.Cuddalore is the headquarters of the Cuddalore district and is a coastal urban-centric constituency. It has traditionally seen a direct face-off between the DMK and AIADMK.In the 2021 Assembly elections, DMK’s G. Iyappan won the seat with 84,563 votes, defeating AIADMK’s M. C. Sampath, who secured 79,412 votes. The margin of victory was 5,151 votes.In the 2016 Assembly elections, AIADMK’s M. C. Sampath won the seat with 70,922 votes, defeating DMK’s Ela. Pugazhendi, who secured 46,509 votes. The margin of victory was a significant 24,413 votes.In the 2011 Assembly elections, AIADMK’s M. C. Sampath secured 85,953 votes, defeating DMK’s E. Pugazhendi, who received 52,275 votes. The margin of victory was 33,678 votes.