The constituency was constituted during the third Lok Sabha (lower house) as Mayuram until the 1980 elections, when it was renamed Mayiladuthurai.

[2][3] During the first elections in 1957, Mayiladuthurai was part of Chidambaram constituency and was held by the Indian National Congress party.

[4] From 1962, the Mayiladuthurai parliament seat was held by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) twice between 1967 and 1971,[5][6] and from 1971 to 1977,[7] Tamil Maanila Congress for two terms between 1998 and 1999,[8] [9] and 1996 to 1998,[10] Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam twice during 2009 and 2014, Indian National Congress for eight terms during 1962–67,[2] 1977–80,[7] 1980–84,[3] 1984–89,[11] 1989–91,[12] 1991–96,[13] 1999–2004,[9] and 2004–09.

[14] Popular Communist leader K. Ananda Nambiar represented Mayiladuthurai in the Lok Sabha from 1951 to 1957.

[19] The current Member of Parliament from the constituency is S. Ramalingam of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.