First woman candidate from fishing community since 1962; Congress gambles on Tharahai Cuthbert to retain Colachel stronghold

COLACHEL: As the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections approach, the Colachel constituency has emerged as a high-stakes battleground. In a strategic move that has shifted the local political landscape, the Congress-DMK alliance has fielded Dr. Tharahai Cuthbert, the sitting MLA of Vilavancode, as its candidate for Colachel.

The decision marks the end of an era for J.G. Prince, a lawyer who represented the constituency for three consecutive terms from 2011 to 2021. By introducing Tharahai Cuthbert—who secured her seat in the 2024 Vilavancode by-election following the resignation of S. Vijayadharani—the alliance is making a direct appeal to the constituency's influential coastal electorate.

Dr. Tharahai’s nomination is being hailed as a historic milestone for the region. Coming from a background in the fishing community, she is the first woman from this demographic to be fielded in Colachel in 64 years. The last prominent woman to represent the community’s interests at this level was Lourdammal Simon, who served in the Kamaraj cabinet in the late 1950s. Local coastal residents and women’s groups have expressed significant optimism, viewing her candidacy as a long-awaited recognition of their socio-political importance.

While the Congress relies on Tharahai’s community ties, the opposition is mounting a formidable challenge:

• TVK’s rising influence: The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, has named Dr. Prem Alex Lawrence as its candidate. Early estimates suggest the TVK has seen a massive surge in membership within the district, positioning Lawrence as a major threat to traditional vote banks.
• BJP’s legal edge: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially fielded Lawyer T. Sivakumar. The BJP has been steadily increasing its footprint in the Kanyakumari district, focusing on infrastructure and national security narratives.

Despite the diverse political offerings, the path to the Secretariat remains firmly in the hands of the fishermen. With approximately 25% of the total polled votes traditionally coming from the coastal villages, the community's demands for better delimitation, harbor infrastructure, and tourism development at Muttom Beach are at the center of the campaign trail.