விருதுநகர் / VIRUDHUNAGAR

Located in the South Zone of Tamil Nadu, Virudhunagar district is a significant administrative unit in the state, comprising 7 assembly constituencies, namely Aruppukkottai, Sivakasi, Sattur, Rajapalayam, Tiruchuli, Virudhunagar, and Srivilliputhur. As of 2025, the district has a total of 1,609,224 registered voters, with 785,132 males and 823,836 females, and 1,901 polling booths. Geographically, the district is bounded by Sivagangai and Madurai districts to the north, Tenkasi and Tuticorin districts to the south, and Ramanathapuram district to the east.

The political landscape of Virudhunagar district is characterized by a mix of DMK and AIADMK strongholds. While the DMK has traditionally held sway in constituencies like Sivakasi and Virudhunagar, the AIADMK has maintained a strong presence in areas like Aruppukkottai and Rajapalayam. The district has witnessed intense electoral battles between the two major Dravidian parties, with the outcome often influencing the overall Tamil Nadu assembly election results.

Virudhunagar district is renowned for its thriving match industry, fireworks, and printing sectors, primarily concentrated in and around Sivakasi. The district is also a major market for oil, chicory, coffee seeds, dry chillies, and pulses. The presence of ginning factories, spinning mills, power loom, and hand loom industries in Rajapalayam has earned it the reputation as the second-largest weaving town in the state after Coimbatore. The district's economic significance is further underscored by the presence of cement plants, including one operated by Ramco Cements Ltd.

With a population of 1,942,288, as per the 2011 census, Virudhunagar district has a literacy rate of 72.02%, slightly below the national average. The district has a total of 537,748 households, with 89.51% of the population speaking Tamil as their first language. The district's urban-rural character is reflected in its 600 revenue villages and nine town panchayats.