Table of contents
Harbour is constituency number 18 in Chennai, located in the northern part of the city and directly adjacent to the Chennai Port. It falls under the Chennai Central Lok Sabha constituency with a population of around 2.64 lakh as per the 2011 census. With a SC population at around 23%.
The constituency covers commercial and residential areas including George Town, Sowcarpet, Mannady, Broadway, Muthialpet, Kondithope, and Wall Tax Road. George Town and Sowcarpet are among Chennai’s oldest and most active wholesale and trading hubs, with a significant long-settled migrant population from Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Bihar engaged in trade and business. The NSC Bose Road corridor is a key commercial artery.
The constituency has been a DMK stronghold, as the party has won ten times from here.
Political Representation
It is a General category assembly seat.
Candidates for 2026 polls
DMK has fielded incumbent MLA, PK Sekar Babu, relying on his strong ground presence. Sekar Babu’s stated priorities if re-elected: 3,000 more multi-storey housing units, expanding educational institutions and libraries, uninterrupted electricity, safe drinking water, proper sewer systems, and completing the Broadway parking facility.
R Manohar, aged 59, represents AIADMK. A writ petition has been filed against Manohar (aka) Royapuram Mano, alleging the distribution of ₹10,000 tokens with QR code. The Election Commission has assured action in the Chennai High Court.
NTK has fielded a Gen Z candidate, 27 year old R Fouzan Shariff. Sinora PS Ashok is running in the fray from TVK.
Top candidates
| 2026 | Candidate | Sex | Party | Age | Link to Affidavit |
| 1 | PK Sekar Babu | Male | DMK | 63 | Download Here |
| 2 | R Manohar | Male | AIADMK | 59 | Download Here |
| 3 | Sinora PS Ashok | Male | TVK | 59 | Download Here |
| 4 | R Fouzan Shariff | Male | NTK | 27 | Download Here |
All candidate details can be found at ECI here.
2021 Polling Snapshot
Total number of voters: 101,687
Male Voters: 54,463
Female voters:46,834
Third gender: 9
Polling percentage: 57.85%
Source: Election Commission of India
Previous Results: 2021
| 2021 | Candidate | Sex | Party | Age | Votes polled (Share of vote %) |
| 1 | Sekar Babu. P.K | M | DMK | 58 | 58.35% |
| 2 | Vinoj. P. Selvam | M | BJP | 34 | 31.52% |
| 3 | Ramesh. A | M | MNM | 41 | 3.7% |
Source: Election Commission of India
Previous Results: 2016
| 2016 | Candidate | Sex | Party | Age | Votes polled (Share of vote %) |
| 1 | Sekar Babu P K | M | DMK | 53 | 40.36% |
| 2 | Sreenivasan K S | M | ADMK | 51 | 35.72% |
| 3 | Krishnakumar Nadhani | M | BJP | 39 | 12.81% |
Source: Election Commission of India
Incumbent MLA: Sekar Babu P K
P. K. Sekar Babu began his career with the AIADMK, winning from R.K. Nagar constituency in both the 2001 and 2006 Assembly elections during the Jayalalithaa-led period. In January 2011, ahead of the Assembly elections, he switched parties to the DMK after being sidelined within the AIADMK but lost that year. He has remained with the DMK since, winning the Harbour seat in both 2016 and 2021, and continues as a key Chennai-based minister heading into the 2026 elections.
He has been serving as Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments since 2021 under M. K. Stalin, with a focus on temple administration reforms and land recovery initiatives.
MLA profile
Age: 63
Educational qualification: 10th Pass
Studied Upto SSLC in 1979 at Kotti Mu. Appuchettiyar High School
Contact details: 98410 40026, mlaharbour@tn.gov.in, minister_hrce@tn.gov.in
Source: myNeta.info | Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
Criminal records: 25
- 1 charges related to Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt (IPC Section-386)
- 1 charges related to Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion (IPC Section-387)
- 1 charges related to Putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion (IPC Section-389)
- 1 charges related to Punishment for dacoity (IPC Section-395)
- 1 charges related to Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property (IPC Section-420)
- 1 charges related to Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means (IPC Section-324)
- 1 charges related to Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (IPC Section-354)
- 1 charges related to Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307)
- 1 charges related to Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election (IPC Section-171F)
- 20 charges related to Punishment for Being member of an unlawful assembly (IPC Section-143)
- 13 charges related to Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant (IPC Section-188)
- 8 charges related to Punishment for wrongful restraint (IPC Section-341)
- 7 charges related to Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for (IPC Section-290)
- 5 charges related to Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life (IPC Section-269)
- 5 charges related to Punishment for Rioting (IPC Section-147)
- 3 charges related to Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention (IPC Section-34)
- 3 charges related to Rioting, armed with deadly weapon (IPC Section-148)
- 2 charges related to Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty (IPC Section-353)
- 1 charges related to Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion (IPC Section-385)
- 1 charges related to Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt (IPC Section-323)
- 1 charges related to Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object (IPC Section-149)
- 1 charges related to Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance (IPC Section-286)
- 1 charges related to Punishment of criminal conspiracy (IPC Section-120B)
- 1 charges related to Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees (IPC Section-427)
Social media presence:
Facebook: PKSekarbabu
Instagram: @pksekarbabu
Twitter/X: PKSekarbabu
LAD Funds Utilisation
Over his 10-year tenure,Sekar Babu states MLA funds have been fully utilised. Key works include: a skill training institute with 6,300 graduates, three study centres set up with two more under construction, 1,470 housing units (425 sq.ft each) built for roadside dwellers with 770 allotted, a 700-unit housing complex on Thanneer Thotti Street, a two-acre playground, an air-conditioned marriage hall, and a dialysis centre. A multi-level parking facility at Broadway is under construction.
MLA in the media
Sekar Babu, incumbent MLA of Harbour assembly constituency is also the minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments. He took a strong stand against BJP’s and Sangh groups’ protests in Thirupparankundram. He also intervened in the sanitation workers’ protest in Chennai and assured jobs under the Greater Chennai Corporation. But only after 5 months of protest.
Malfunction of a lift inaugurated by the minister in Swamimalai Murugan temple, led to criticisms on the quality of infrastructure projects.
Key citizen demands
Stray cattle attacks on residents in the narrow streets of George Town are a persistent concern, with demands for more GCC-run cattle shelters. Stray dogs, driven by solid waste accumulation in congested lanes, are another recurring issue. The area’s sewer network and stormwater drains are considered inadequate for the population density, and unauthorised buildings near Central Railway Station compound the congestion.
Traffic remains a major problem, with multi-modal integration near Broadway delayed for several years, work has began only recently. Residents also flag public health risks in the high-footfall area between Stanley Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital.
The constituency has a significant migrant business community, over 500 families from Rajasthan’s Jalore district alone operate in Sowcarpet. They cite peace, harmony, and civic responsiveness as their key demands from elected representatives. Ahead of the 2026 elections, over 12,000 names of north Indian electors were removed from rolls during the SIR process, reducing that voter base from around 40,000 to 28,000, a contested development.