Cuddalore comes under the Cuddalore assembly constituency. It elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years. From the 1977 elections, the assembly seat was won by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) five times during the 1980, 1989, 1996, 2001 and 2006 elections, the Indian National Congress party two times during the 1984 and 1991 elections and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) twice during the 1997 and 2011 elections. The current MLA of the constituency is G.Iyappan from DMK. During the 2009 general elections, Cuddalore was a part of Cuddalore (Lok Sabha constituency) with six assembly segments: Tittakudi (SC), Vridhachalam, Neyveli, Cuddalore, Panruti and Kurinjipadi. Before 2009, Cuddalore Lok Sabha constituency composed of the following assembly segments: Ulundurpet (SC), Nellikkuppam, Cuddalore, Panruti, Rishivandinam and Sankarapuram. The Lok Sabha seat has been held by the Indian National Congress for eight terms during 1951–56, 1971–77, 1977–80. 1980–84, 1984–1989, 1989–91, 1991–96, and 2009–present, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for four times during 1962–1967, 1967–71, 1999–04, and 2004–09, Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam twice during 1998–99 and 2014, Tamil Maanila Congress once during 1996–2001 and an independent during 1957–62, The current Member of Parliament from the constituency is T. R. V. S. Ramesh from the DMK. The town's law and order is maintained by the Cuddalore sub division of the Tamil Nadu Police headed by a deputy superintendent (DSP). There are four police stations in the town located in NT, Thirupapuliyur, Cuddalore OT and Cuddalore Port. There are select units like prohibition enforcement, district crime, social justice and human rights, district crime records and a select branch that operate at the district level police division headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP). On 24 August 2021, the state government announced the upgrading of the Cuddalore Greater Municipality to "Cuddalore City Municipal Corporation" with same authority area of 27.69 sq km2. Tourism Pataleeswarar Temple, a Hindu temple, built during the 7th century and dated a millennium earlier, is the most prominent landmark in Cuddalore. The name, Thirupathipuliyur, is associated with the legend behind the temple. The temple is revered in the verses of 7th-century Saiva saints Appar and Tirugnanasambandar in their works in Tevaram. The Devanathaswami Temple, located in Thiruvanthipuram, is another Hindu pilgrimage site around Cuddalore. Silver Beach is a long beach located in Cuddalore and is another prominent visitor attraction of the town. Pichavaram, which is 57 km from Cuddalore,