1957 Madras State Legislative Assembly election
Indian National Congress and its leader, K. Kamaraj won the election and defeated their rival, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.In 1954, due to the resignation of C. Rajagopalachari, for his controversial Kula Kalvi Thittam, the leadership of Congress was contested between K. Kamaraj, and C. Subramaniam (who got the support of M. Bhaktavatsalam).Eventually, K. Kamaraj, won the support of the party, was elected leader and chief minister of Madras State in 1954.In a surprise move, he appointed both M. Bhaktavatsalam and C. Subramaniam, to his cabinet, allowing great unity amongst the Congress that ruled the state of Madras, for the next decade.The Tamil-speaking area of Kerala (present-day Kanyakumari district) and Shenkottah taluk were added to Madras State.The DMK election manifesto had a socialist image, and the creation of Dravida Nadu became a side issue as it implicitly accepted the prevailing constitutional order.