Minister K.R. Periyakaruppan lost the Assembly election from Tirupattur in the Sivaganga district by just one vote.

At the end of the penultimate round of counting, he was leading by 30 votes.

However, after the final round, election officials declared that his nearest rival, Seenivasa Sethupathy of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), had won by a single vote. He secured 83,365 votes against Mr. Periyakaruppan’s 83,364 votes.

Tamil star Vijay and his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), are celebrating a historic lead in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, sparking a wave of congratulatory messages from prominent figures in the film industry, including actors Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Suriya, Vikram, and Sivakarthikeyan.

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The AIADMK, which had expected to capture power after a spell of five years in the Opposition, has to blame itself for its present plight.

Moreover, despite the loss of its base being evident during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK, which had faced the Assembly elections in the company of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), did not rope in all other anti-DMK forces under its fold.

The party’s general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, retained his traditional constituency of Edappadi by a margin of around 98,000 votes. Some of his colleagues, including C.Ve. Shanmugam, K.P. Anbalagan, Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy, Natham R. Viswanathan and O.S. Manian have made it to the Assembly. Apart from the western region, the party has lost heavily in the southern region where five years ago, it secured 18 seats. But, this time, the tally has come down to five, including one seat where the party is leading.

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According to the ECI data, TVK chief Vijay won from Tiruchirapalli East by a margin of 27,416 votes.

- PTI

Tamil cinema’s top actor C. Joseph Vijay’s fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Monday (May 4, 2026) made a stunning electoral debut, emerging as the single largest party with 107 seats in the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly election. In doing so, it disrupted a nearly half-century-old bipolar landscape dominated by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

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R. Sabarinathan, the 30-year-old son of actor-politician Vijay’s long-time driver and personal assistant Rajendran, has won in the Virugambakkam Assembly constituency in Chennai.

Mr. Sabarinathan, contesting on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket, won by 27,086 votes, according to the latest Election Commission figures.

Rajendran has been associated with Vijay since the actor’s debut film ‘Naalaiya Theerpu’, serving as his driver and personal aide.

Mr. Sabarinathan emerged as one of the most talked-about candidates of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections after an emotional video of him breaking down on stage went viral, shortly after his name figured among TVK’s list of candidates.

- PTI

Tamil Nadu former BJP president K. Annamalai on Monday (May 4, 2026) hailed the “generational shift” in the state’s political landscape following the 2026 Assembly election results, congratulating actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party TVK on a “spectacular debut”.

In a statement posted on ‘X’, he said the verdict reflected a clear public mandate against established political norms.

“I bow down to the people of TN for your verdict. Happy to see in my land, people have risen in one voice and spoken -- no to buying of votes, no to dynastic politics,” Mr. Annamalai said.

- PTI

The outgoing Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Monday (May 4, 2026) said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which had functioned efficiently as a ruling party, would now function as an effective Opposition.

In a social media message, the DMK president said he accepted the people’s verdict and congratulated the victors on their win.

He said the DMK had implemented a range of welfare schemes over the past five years and provided good governance. “We developed the State in all sectors. We sought votes based on our achievements and for the continuation of welfare schemes,” he said.

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TVK’s general secretary – election campaign management Aadhav Arjuna described the current political moment as a “revolution”, saying voters, especially women and youth, are moving against dynastic politics in Tamil Nadu.

He said the shift reflects growing demand for change.

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa lost to AMMK candidate Kamaraj S in the Mannargudi constituency with a margin of 1,566 votes on Monday (May 4, 2026).

According to the ECI data, Mr. Rajaa secured 66,850 votes and Kamaraj – 68,416 votes. Mr. Rajaa has been elected thrice to the Assembly from Mannargudi.

After DMK came back to power in 2021, Mr. Rajaa was appointed as a member of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission and as the Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Estimates. Later in 2023, he was made Minister.

- PTI

Kamal Haasan, an actor-politician and the president of Makkal Needhi Maiam, congratulated TVK president C. Joseph Vijay and also affirmed M.K. Stalin’s resilience in politics.

“My congratulations to the leader of the victorious Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, Thiru. Vijay and the members of his party, who have earned the people’s trust and achieved a great victory in their very first election. My best wishes for their public service to excel,” said Mr. Kamal Haasan.

In a separate post, the MNM chief said, “In democratic politics, elections are but one part. My dear friend, the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Mr. M.K. Stalin, is not one to exult in victory. Nor is he one to wilt in defeat. He will fight again. He will win again.”

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] retained the Kilvelur (SC) Assembly constituency, with its candidate T. Latha emerging victorious in a closely contested battle against the TVK.

Ms. Latha secured 56,108 votes, narrowly defeating TVK’s S. Senthil Pandian, who received 53,830 votes. The margin of victory was 2,278 votes.

PMK candidate Vadivel Ravanan finished third with 31,675 votes, followed by Naam Tamilar Katchi’s Karthika, who secured 8,069 votes.

The result marks a tight defence of the seat by the CPI(M), which had also won the constituency in 2021. The constituency recorded a high voter turnout of 87.98%.

- M. Nacchinarkkiniyan

R. Chellasamy of the CPI(M) won the Padmanabhapuram constituency with 68,938 votes, a margin of 15,569 votes over TVK’s S. Krishna Kumar, who received 53,369 votes.

- The Hindu Bureau

A. Srinath of TVK won the Thoothukudi Assembly constituency by a huge margin of 37,731, with 1,00,536 votes. He defeated P. Geetha Jeevan of the DMK, who received 62,805 votes.

- The Hindu Bureau

TVK president C. Joseph Vijay arrived at the house of his father and director S. A. Chandrasekhar at Adyar to seek the blessings of his parents.

Mr. Chandrasekhar welcomed Mr. Vijay with a warm hug.

- N. Sai Charan

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke to TVK chief Vijay and congratulated him for the results. 

Mr. Gandhi also spoke to DMK chief and outgoing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin

- Sandeep Phukan

“Congratulations to TVK on their impressive performance. The Centre will leave no stone unturned in furthering the progress of Tamil Nadu and the well-being of their people,” says Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his social media post. 

Rajapalayam Assembly constituency: 

TVK’s K. Jagadeshwari has got an unassailable lead of 10,758 votes against DMK’s two-time MLA, S. Thangapandian in the 21st round. While Ms. Jagadeshwari has got a whopping 64,947 votes Mr. Thangapandian has secured 54,189 votes. 

BJP’s candidate, Priscilla Pandian stood third with 35,878 votes — S. Sundar

Outgoing Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin retained his Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency, defeating the TVK’s D. Selvam on Monday (May 4, 2026). With outgoing Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin losing his Kolathur seat, the responsibility of leading the party may fall on Mr. Udhayanidhi, who has won the seat for the second time. 

By 5.45 pm:

DMK won in Pollachi, Valparai and Coimbatore South

AIADMK leading in Thondamuthur 

TVK won Kavundampalayam, Kinathukadavu 

TVK leading in Coimbatore north, Sulur, Mettupalayam and Singanallur — M. Soundariya Preetha

AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has won in the Edappadi assembly constituency by 98,100 votes.

Mr. Palaniswami secured 1,48,933 votes and defeated TVK-supported independent candidate K. Premkumar who secured 50,823 — M. Sabari

TVK candidate S. Lakshmanan tastes victory in Salem West constituency by a margin of 74,581 votes. 

He secured 1,19,587 votes and defeated PMK candidate M. Karthe who secured 45,006 votes — M. Sabari

In Attur (SC) constituency, AIADMK candidate A.P. Jayasankaran won by 14,832 votes. Mr. Jayasankaran secured 79,625 votes and defeated TVK Candidate R. Selvabharathi who secured 64,793 votes.

In Salem South Constituency TVK candidate A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban won by 33,565 votes. Mr. Parthiban secured 91,008 votes and defeated DMK Candidate M. Loganathan who secured 57,443 votes — M. Sabari

TVK’s V.S. Babu has won the Kolathur constituency in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026, unseating DMK leader and sitting Chief Minister M.K Stalin. Mr. Babu, a former AIADMK MLA, polled a total of 82,614 votes in Kolathur Assembly constituency, after 22 rounds of counting and checking five sample EVM machines and one machine that was suspected to have an error, according to authorities. He was handed over the certificate — R. Aishwaryaa

In what marks a tectonic shift in Tamil Nadu politics, the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor Joseph C. Vijay, is set emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections. 

In Sulur constituency of Coimbatore district, TVK candidate N. Sukumar declared winner. 

TVK’s N. Sukumar - 85279 votes

AIADMK’s V.P. Kandasamy - 74321 votes

DMK’s Thalapathi Murugesan - 75686 votes — M. Soundariya Preetha

Former Minister and senior AIADMK leader O.S. Manian secured a third consecutive victory in the Vedaranyam Assembly constituency, winning a closely contested three-cornered election.

Mr. Manian polled 58,108 votes to defeat the DMK candidate M. Pugazhendi, who secured 50,587 votes, and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s Kingsley Gerald A., who received 38,071 votes.

The victory margin was 7,521 votes over his nearest rival.

The contest saw a strong challenge from both the DMK and TVK candidates, but Mr. Manian retained the seat, completing a hat-trick of wins in the constituency. 

— M. Nacchinarkkiniyan

PMK’s Sowmiya Anbumani wins Dharmapuri assembly seat by 19,982 votes defeating TVK’s M. Sivan.

Sowmiya Anbumani polled 91,469 votes; TVK’s Sivan polled 71,487 votes; DMDK’s candidate Elangovan V polled 55,457 votes — P.V. Srividya

In Kinathukadavu constituency of Coimbatore district: 

DMK - Sabari Karthikeyan: 87545

AIADMK - Damodaran: 67333

TVK - Vignesh: 99661

TVK candidate declared winner. He maintained lead from round one — M. Soundariya Preetha

Anna Nagar TVK candidate Ramkumar declared as the winner for the constituency. He won by roughly 22,000 votes. He told The Hindu that providing basic amenities would be first priority — R. Aishwaryaa

After 18 rounds of counting of votes, M. Raju of the DMK wins in Coonoor constituency in The Nilgiris district by a margin of 8099 votes defeating A. Ramu of the AIADMK.

With the two-year-old Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founded by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay leading in more than 100 seats, according to the early trends as of 1 p.m. on the day of counting on Monday (May 4, 2026), many of its frontline office-bearers have put up strong performances so far.

Thoothukudi constituency, long regarded as the bastion of DMK has been shaken by the entry of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The TVK candidate and actor A. Srinath leads by 21, 872 votes at the end of 13 rounds of counting.

Incumbent MLA P. Geetha Jeevan, who was elected thrice from the constituency in 2006, 2016 and 2021 elections, has secured 31,572 votes, while the new entrant has garnered 53,444 votes. From NDA, alliance AIADMK candidate S.T. Chellapandian has been fielded, and he has secured 12,592 votes.

It is noteworthy that in the last assembly election, Ms. Geetha Jeevan was elected from the constituency with a huge margin of 50,310 votes — B. Shankari Nivethitha

In a historic departure from the Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu, the State has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a rank political newbie: actor C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). At 1.15 p.m., the TVK was leading in 110 seats, with the AIADMK leading in 57 seats and the DMK bringing up the rear in 48 seats.

The performance, up until after midday, is indicative of a huge anti-incumbency factor, a sentiment in the room many psephologists and analysts failed to read. It is likely that, at the end of the day, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu will have been fundamentally altered, with a third party emerging as a significant power source.

Over 50 lakh more electors have exercised their franchise in the 2026 Assembly election compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu.

However, this is nothing to be surprised about if one goes by the data regarding the votes polled during Assembly elections in the last 20 years. In fact, this is an illustration of the tradition in Tamil Nadu where people’s interest in the polling process has always been higher during the Assembly polls than during the Lok Sabha elections.

In the last 20 years, the current tally of about 51 lakh additional voters comes second to what the State registered in 2011, when the corresponding figure was around 63.65 lakh. In 2016 and 2021, the figures were 29.16 lakh and 28.8 lakh, respectively.

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There is no denying that Tamil Nadu’s political landscape is inescapably linked to the region’s literature. Whether it is Jnanpith Award winner Jayakanthan’s works or writer Jeyamohan’s short stories, electoral politics has time and again found itself intricately woven into Tamil literary narratives. 

In the run-up to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, B. Kolappan of The Hindu explores the varying political themes that has appeared in Tamil literature, as a reminder that they have unfailingly evoked contemporary trends in politics, and vice versa.

Chennai, which has remained a DMK bastion for long, has nearly voted the party out, if one were to go by the trends available as of 1 p.m. on Monday. 

At the end of eight rounds, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was trailing in the Kolathur constituency, where he has been MLA for three consecutive terms — B. Aravind Kumar

Round 5:

In Srivilliputtur constituency, CPI candidate P. Mahalingam has taken a good lead of 4,384 votes against A. Karthik of TVK. Former AIADMK MLA M. Chandraprabha is trailing behind at third spot with 10,213 votes — S. Sundar

After 11th round in Edappadi constituency:

Former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami is leading by 41,737 votes.

AIADMK (EPS): 66,651

TVK supported independent candidate (K. Premkumar): 24,914

DMK (C. Kasi): 17,907

— M. Sabari

In Gudalur constituency, DMK’s M. Dhravidamani has been declared the winner, defeating AIADMK’s Pon Jeyaseelan by more than 20,000 votes. Mr. Dhravidamani is a two-time MLA from Gudalur and has now won his third term — Rohan Premkumar

TVK candidate for Egmore (SC) constituency, Rajmohan, tells The Hindu that if he’s elected to power, he would plant a tree in the constituency for each vote he recieved. 

DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant leads by 1,732 votes in Vriddhachalam constituency at the end of round 10. 

Out of nine constituencies in Cuddalore district, AIADMK leads in Chidambaram, Bhuvanagiri, Neyveli and Kurinjipadi while the VCK leads in Kattumannarkoil (SC) and Panruti. The DMK leads in Thittakudi (SC) while the TVK leads in Cuddalore — S. Prasad

A glitch has been reported in one of the EVMs during the counting of votes for the Mylapore constituency.

At the end of the 10th round, Tourism Minister R. Rajendran is trailing by 5,508 votes in Salem North. The TVK candidate is leading here, with 39,636 votes.

At the end of 9th round in the Virudhunagar Assembly constituency, P. Selvam of the TVK (27,011) further widens the lead with a margin of 2,455 votes against V. Vijayaprabhakaran of the DMDK (24,556).

TVK candidate M. Sathya, meanwhile, is leading by just 5 votes against her nearest rival S. Dhivya of the AIADMK in Krishnarayapuram constituency in Karur district at the end of sixth round.

In what is clearly a tectonic shift in Tamil Nadu politics, the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Joseph C. Vijay has emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections, securing leads in 101 of the 234 constituencies, tantalisingly close to the majority mark of 118, with a vote share of nearly 34% in the roughly 12.5% of votes counted so far (as of 11:00 AM).

None of the Above (NOTA) does not appear to have emerged as a particularly strong choice for voters this time during the 2026 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu on April 23. While a few voters said they did opt for NOTA, there has been little chatter to suggest any broad or significant surge in its support.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin was among several DMK ministers trailing in their respective constituencies even after the third round of counting.

According to the Election Commission (ECI), Stalin, who is contesting in Kolathur, was trailing. Likewise, Deputy Chief minister Udhayanidhi Staling was trailing in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.

DMK general secretary and senior Minister Duraimurugan was also trailing at the Katpadi Assembly segment. Similarly, other Ministers, including P. Geetha Jeevan (Thoothukudi), Ma. Subramanian (Saidapet), E.V. Velu (Tiruvannamalai), P.K. Sekarbabu (Harbour), T.M. Anbarasan (Alandur), K.N. Nehru (Tiruchi West), Govi Chezhiaan (Thiruvidaimarudur), Nassar (Avadi), Mathiventhan (Rasipuram), T.R.B. Raja (Manargudi), K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran and Thangam Thenarasu in Trichuli were trailing — PTI

DMK Minister K.N. Nehru, who had been trailing in the initial rounds of counting, is now leading by 2,674 votes after round 12. While the votes polled by Mr. Nehru is 47,821, TVK candidate G. Ramamoorthy has secured 45,147 votes.

— R. Rajaram

After the fourth round of counting, in Sattur Assembly constituency, M. Ajith of the TVK (11,148) leads with 654 votes against A. Kadarkarairaj of the DMK (10,494), as BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran goes to the third spot with 9,717 votes.

— S. Sundar

Tamil Nadu’s long-standing bipolar political landscape, dominated for over half a century by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), faced a dramatic disruption on Monday (May 4, 2026) as votes polled in the Assembly elections were counted.

Beefing up security, CISF and police personnel have been deployed outside the residence of TVK chief and C. Joseph Vijay at Panaiyur in Chennai outskirts, after his party candidates continue to lead in more than 100 constituencies across Tamil Nadu in the State Assembly election. 

At the end of two hours of counting, which began at 8.30 a.m., the Tamilaga Vetrri Kazhagam (TVK) candidates were leading in about 35 Assembly constituencies out of 58 in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Apart from the DMK Ministers contesting the election, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (DMK), TN BJP unit president Nainar Nagenthran, TN Legislative Assembly Speaker Appavu, Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman and among others are in the fray.

High profile Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan from Madurai Central constituency was trailing behind while the TVK was on the lead. However, P. Moorthy (DMK) contesting from Madurai East had established a lead from the first round. In Thiruparankundram, Thirumangalam, Madurai West Madurai South and Madurai North, the TVK was on the lead.

In Sivaganga district, Minister K.R. Periakaruppan was leading in Tirupathur, while in the remaining three constituencies, TVK candidates were leading at 10.30 a.m.

In Virudhunagar district, Ministers and DMK candidates Thangam Thennarasu and K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran were trailing. AIADMK candidate K.T. Rajendhra Bhalaji was leading in Sivakasi constituency at the fifth round.

- L. Srikrishna

The TVK is leading in Erode (East), Erode (West), Modakkurichi, and Gobichettipalayam.

In Sulur, after round 6, the TVK’s N.M. Sukumar is leading with 20,957 votes. In Singanallur, the TVK’s K.S. Sri Giri Prasath is leading with 17,130 votes. 

— S.P. Saravanan, M. Soundarya Preetha

After round 6 in Kolathur: M.K. Stalin (DMK) - 20982

V.S. Babu (TVK) - 24993

P. Santhana Krishnan (AIADMK) - 5982

Soundara Pandian (NTK) - 1801

— R. Aishwaryaa

After round 3, AIADMK leads in Veerapandi (Salem district) by 1,421 votes

AIADMK: 10,641

DMK: 9,135

TVK: 9,220

After round 2 in Hosur:

AIADMK’S P. Balakrishna Reddy leads with 9,461 votes

DMK’s S.A. Sathya polled 4,748 votes

TVK has polled 3233 votes After round 6 in Nannilam:

Former Minister R. Kamaraj, AIADMK, leads by 10,075 votes over Mohamed Mubarak of SDPI in Nannilam at the end of round 6.

— M. Sabari, P.V. Srividya, S. Ganesan

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu is trailing behind in Radhapuram constituency by 1,300 votes after seven rounds of counting. The TVK’s Sathish Christopher is leading here. 

— P. Sudhakar

After round 4, the BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan trails in Coimbatore North with 2,690 votes. The TVK’s V. Sampathkumar is leading with 4,156 votes. The DMK’s Senthamizh Selvan has secured 3,204 votes.

— M. Soundarya Preetha

After the third round of counting in Aruppukottai Assembly constituency, State Minister and sitting MLA K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran (9,719) of the DMK trails by 1,089 votes behind TVK candidate Karthik Kumar (10,808).

— S. Sundar

Sitting MLA K. Poondi Kalaivanan of the DMK, leads by a margin of 5812 votes over his nearest TVK rival V. Veeramani in Tiruvarur at the end of round 8. K. Marimuthu, CPI, leads by 3596 votes over his nearest TVK rival S. Pandiyan in Thiruthuraipoondi at the end of round 5. 

After round 4, Mudukulathur sitting DMK MLA R.S. Rajakannapan leads with 10077 votes. Behind him falls TVK candidate Malarvizhi with 9164, S. Pandi of ADMK with 7331 votes; NTK’s Dr. Chandra Praba with 4481 votes. 

At the end of round 6 in Ramanathapuram district, sitting DMK MLA Katharbatcha Muthuramalingam leads with a total of 22,265 votes. TVK (Sahul Hameed) in second with 12,878 votes; BJP GBS Nagendran in third with 8,521 votes — S. Ganesan, C. Palanivel Rajan

At the end of round 5, the TVK is leading in Salem South by 9,952 votes. 

TVK: 24,279

DMK: 14,327

AIADMK: 13,758

The TVK is leading in Salem West too, by 8,084 votes. 

TVK: 15,779

PMK: 7,695

DMDK: 5,519

— M. Sabari

At the end of round 3, TVK’s Ramkumar leads in the Anna Nagar constituency with 2,796 votes.

After round 4, in Madurai Central Assembly constituency, DMK leader and Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan is trailing with 1,821 votes. Madhar Badhurudeen of the TVK is leading with 3,501 votes, followed by Sundar C. (AIADMK-BJP alliance) with 2,186 votes.

— B. Tilak Chandar

At the end of round 2 in Kattumannarkoil (SC) constituency:

VCK - 11,472

PMK - 9,889

TVK - 5,475

Status of lead by T.N. parties as of 10.50 a.m.

The status of parties leading, according to the Election Commission of India, as of 10.50 a.m.:

• TVK - 97 seats

• AIADMK - 66 seats

• DMK - 37 seats

• Congress - 3 seats

• PMK - 7 seats

• CPI - 2 seats

• VCK - 2 seats

At the end of round 3 in Virugambakkam constituency, the TVK is leading with 9,851 votes.

In Kolathur constituency, after second round:DMK’s Stalin - 7159TVK’s V.S. Babu - 8393

AIADMK’s P. Santhana Krishnan - 2226

NTK’s Soundara Pandian Luder Seth - 650

Total counted - 18,758

— R. Aishwaryaa

R. Vaithilingam of DMK leads by a margin of 697 votes over his nearest TVK rival Aravind in Orathanadu at the end of second round. 

— S. Ganesan

In Katpadi, senior DMK Minister Duraimurugan is trailing. He has secured 5,301 votes, while V. Ramu (AIADMK) is leading by 7,594 votes and Dr. M Sudhakar (TVK) has secured 4,725 votes.

Sitting MLA and State Minister Thangam Thennarasu is also trailing at the end of the first round. Here are the trends:

Tiruchuli Assembly constituency:

S. Samayan TVK - 3,726 leads

Thangam Thennarasu (DMK) - 3,369 

M.S.R. Rajavaraman (AIADMK) - 948

Avarangadu Karthik Raja (NTK) - 6624

T. Murugesapandian (AIPTMMK) - 36

— D. Madhavan, S. Sundar

TVK cadres in Kancheepuram celebrating the lead status of their party candidates acorss Tamil Nadu

At the end of Round 2 in Vriddhachalam constituency in Cuddalore district, TVK candidate S. Vijay leading DMDK candidate Premallatha Vijayakant by a razor thin margin of 19 votes.

TVK - 6121

DMDK - 6102

— S. Prasad

TVK president C. Joseph Vijay increases his lead in Round 2 in Tiruchi East. He is leading by a margin of 3,299 votes over his DMK rival Inigo Irudhayaraj.

— R. Rajaram

The TVK’s candidate R. Kumar leads in Velachery segment. 

After round 1, in Padmanabhapuram constituency, S. Krishnakumar of the TVK is leading with 2,138 votes, R. Chellasamy of the CPI(M) has secured 1,950 votes, and P. Ramesh of the BJP has got 1,502 votes.

At the end of the third round in Kangayam, the TVK is yet again leading, with its candidate Mani Gounder securing 10,237 votes. N.S.N. Nataraj of the AIADMK has secured 8,255 votes and Minister M.P. Saminathan of the DMK, 7,122 votes.

— Shankari Nivethitha, R. Krishnamoorthy

Status of lead by T.N. parties as of 10 a.m.

The status of parties leading, according to the Election Commission of India, as of 10 a.m.:

• TVK - 50 seats

• AIADMK - 47 seats 

• DMK - 23 seats

• Congress - 3 seats

• PMK - 2 seats

• DMDK - 1 seat

• BJP - 1 seat

BJP leaders and Union Minister of State L. Murugan is trailing behind the TVK candidate, S. Kamali, in the Avanashi constituency after the first round of counting.

— R. Krishnamoorthy

M. Nacchinarkkiniyan

Tiruchendur constituency:

Anitha Radhakrishnan (DMK) - 3,219

J. Murugan (TVK) - 2,749

K.R.M. Radhakrishnan (BJP) - 1,611

Thoothukudi constituency:

P. Geetha Jeevan of DMK - 2,591

S.T. Chellapandian of AIADMK - 1,220

A. Srinath of TVK - 4,037

— B. Shankari Nivethitha

At the end of the first round in the Edappadi Assembly constituency, AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami is leading by 3,830 votes.

AIADMK: 5,520

TVK-supported independent candidate: 1,690

DMK: 1,395

— M. Sabari

The TVK’s candidate M. Arul Prakasam leads with 4,334 votes in the Saidapet constituency, where DMK leader and Health Minister Ma. Subramanian is trailing. 

After the end of round 1 in Bargur constituency in Krishnagiri district:

DMK’S sitting MLA D. Mathiazhagan leads by 200 votes

TVK comes a close second, pushing AIADMK to third — P.V. Srividya

At the end of the first round in Salem North, Tourism Minister R. Rajendran is trailing by 431 votes. The TVK candidate is leading. The trends are as follows:

TVK: 4,034

DMK: 3,603

AIADMK: 2,178

— M. Sabari

DMK’s K.N. Nehru trails by 1,032 votes at the end of the second round of counting in Tiruchi West.

At the end of the first round of counting in Nagapattinam, the trends are as follows:

DMK - 3,400

AIADMK - 3,047

NTK - 351 

TVK - 2,513

— S. Ganesan, M. Nacchinarkkiniyan

At the end of round 1 of counting, the TVK’s P. Venkataramanan is leading in the Mylapore constituency.

Gobichettipalayam Assembly constituency, end of Round 1:

K.A. Sengottaiyan (TVK) – 4,320 votes

N. Nallasivam (DMK) – 2,886 votes

Lead by 1,434 votes

— S.P. Saravanan

TVK president C. Joseph Vijay leads in Tiruchi East by 1,649 votes at the end of the first round of counting.

Meanwhile, the PMK’s Sowmiya Anbumani leads with 4,158 votes in Dharmapuri; followed by the TVK candidate with 2,937 votes. The DMK’s ally DMDK candidate secures 2,048 votes by end of round 1.

— S. Ganesan, P.V. Srividya

The status of parties leading, according to the Election Commission of India, as of 9.30 a.m.:

• AIADMK - 11 seats

• TVK - 9 seats

• DMK - 5 seats

• Congress - 2 seats

• PMK - 1 seat

• CPI - 1 seat

• BJP - 1 seat

The AIADMK’s sitting MLA K.P. Munusamy is leading by 783 votes in the Vepanahalli Assembly constituency by the end of round 2 in Krishnagiri.

In the Kinathukadavu segment, Vignesh of the TVK is leading with 7,361 votes, Damodaran of the AIADMK has secured 5,192 votes, and Sabari Karthikeyan of the DMK has got 5,636 votes.

In the Kulithalai constituency, the TVK candidate takes early lead.

— P.V. Srividya, M. Soundarya Preetha, C. Jaisankar

At the end of first round, AIADMK candidate M.C. Sampath leads in Cuddalore constituency.

AIADMK - M.C. Sampath: 3980

TVK - B. Rajkumar: 3775

Congress - A.S. Chandrasekaran: 332

NTK - S. Sarasu: 305

— S. Prasad

With the counting of votes under way in the Katpadi constituency, Vellore, workers of various parties eagerly look on.

At the end of round one in T. Nagar constituency in Chennai:

N. Anand of TVK: 3,558

Sathyanarayan of AIADMK: 1,959

Raja Anbazhagan of DMK: 1,893

Anusha of NTK: 256

— Sunitha Sekar

The counting of votes for the results of Assembly elections in four States and one UT, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, begins at 8.00 a.m. today. 

Here’s how you can keep track of the winners being declared:

Tamil Nadu’s Assembly elections have often seen long gaps between polling and the counting of votes. This video looks at how election schedules in the State have evolved since 1967, the reasons behind delays, and the political moments that shaped modern Tamil Nadu.

At the end of round 1 in Coimbatore South, V. Senthilbalaji (DMK) has secured 3,481 votes, Senthil Kumar (TVK), 3,205 votes, and Amman Arjunan (AIADMK) 936 votes. 

In the Thally constituency, the BJP’s C. Nagesh Kumar is leading by 59 votes. Sitting MLA T. Ramachandran is trailing.

In Tirupattur Assembly constituency, TVK candidate N. Thirupathi is leading with 3,800 votes, followed by AMMK candidate A. Gnanasekar (2,100 votes) and DMK (sitting MLA A. Nallathambi) with 2,000 votes.

— M. Soundarya Preetha, P.V. Srividya, D. Madhavan

TVK candidate N. Subramanian, who was the former AIADMK Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, leads by a margin of 174 votes against his rival and sitting MLA M. Chinnadurai of CPM in first round in Gandharvakottai (SC) constituency, in the first round of counting of votes.

TVK - 3,249

CPM - 3,075

BJP - 2,485

— Ancy Donal Madonna

In Salem West Assembly constituency, TVK candidate S. Lakshmanan is leading in first round.

TVK: 5,394

DMDK: 2,109

AIADMK: 1,591

NTK: 307

— M. Sabari

With the counting of postal ballots under way, AIADMK candidate M.R. Vijayabhaskar is leading in the Karur constituency, overtaking the DMK’s M. Thiyagarajan by a margin of over 1,300 votes.

At the end of the first round of counting in the Tirunelveli segment, the DMK has got 2,396 votes, AIADMK 1,780 votes, and TVK 2,385 votes.

In Virudhunagar constituency, DMDK candidate V. Vijayaprabhakar is leading by a slender margin of 482 votes against his nearest rival V.G. Ganesan of the AIADMK in the first round.

— C. Jaisankar, P. Sudhakar, S. Sundar

The candidates’ waiting room was unallocated, leaving the DMK candidate and ex-MP Dr. S. Senthilkumar facing off AIADMK’s K.P. Anbalagan in Palacode constituency seen seated amid media persons in the media centre at the counting hall in the Government college of engineering in Chettikarai in Dharmapuri — P.V. Srividya

The counting of votes in the Perambur constituency was delayed by about 30 minutes reportedly due to overcrowding at the counting centre by TVK cadres. TVK president C. Joseph Vijay is contesting from the constituency.

The Model Code of Conduct prohibits display of political symbols and images inside counting centres

The counting of votes polled in the 21 Assembly constituencies in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai districts began at 8 a.m. in five centres in these districts.

Strong rooms were opened in the presence of candidates or their authorised representatives.

Postal ballots are being counted first, followed by the votes recorded in the electronic voting machines (EVMs). The counting of EVM votes will begin only after the completion of the postal ballot rounds.

Prominent candidates in the region include senior Ministers Duraimurugan (Katpadi), E.V. Velu (Tiruvannamalai), R. Gandhi (Ranipet), Deputy Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, K. Pitchandi (Kilpennathur), and former AIADMK Ministers K.C. Veeramani (Jolarpet) and S.S. ‘Agri’ Krishnamoorthy (Kalasapakkam).

Of the total 21 Assembly seats in these four districts, the DMK is contesting in 17 constituencies. Some of them are: Jolarpet, Ambur, Arcot, Cheyyar, Vandavasi, Arani, Chengam, Gudiyatham, Vellore, and Anaicut. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) alliance partners are also in the fray: VCK (Arakkonam), Congress (Sholinghur), IUML (Vaniyambadi), and DMDK (Polur).

The AIADMK and its alliance partners are contesting in a majority of constituencies in the region: BJP (Tiruvannamalai), PMK (Sholihgur, Polur), AMMK (Tirupattur), and TMC(M) (Ranipet).

As many as 16 tables have been arranged in each constituency for every round of counting.

Four-tier security arrangements, with more than 4,000 police personnel, including Central forces, have been deployed in and around the counting centres.

— D. Madhavan

At all three counting halls - Thanjavur, Thiruvaiyaru and Orathanadu Assembly segments - in Thanjavur district, some of the counting agents who arrived late were not able to find a space, even to stand, before the table for which they were assigned by the candidates.

Thus, some of them sat on the lawns near the counting halls — V. Venkatasubramanian

Officials have begun counting the postal votes in Chennai and Thoothukudi. Scenes on the ground:

All eyes are on a key constituency in Sivaganga district — Karaikudi — where Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman is contesting against the incumbent Congress MLA S. Mangudi.

Though it was said to have been a fight between the sitting MLA and the NTK leader, with the entry of a popular face in the constituency, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam candidate T.K. Prabhu, the contest may witness a shift. 

Further, the campaigning of TVK leader C. Joseph Vijay at Karaikudi is believed to turn the contest into a close one. 

— C. Palanivel Rajan

The political fate of five sitting MLAs, three former MLAs, and several other candidates of seven Assembly constituency in Virudhunagar district will be known in the next few hours, with the counting of votes polled on April 23 Assembly election having begun. 

Among the top contenders are two State Ministers, namely K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran (Aruppukottai) and Thangam Thennarasu (Tiruchuli).

The sitting MLAs contesting are: Nainar Nagendran (BJP State president, Sattur), S. Thangapandian (Rajapalayam), and G. Ashokan (Sivakasi). 

Three former MLAs, K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji (Sivakasi), M. Chandra Prabha (Srivilliputtur), and M.S.R. Rajavarman (Tiruchuli), all from the AIADMK, are also eagerly waiting for the results.

Puthiya Tamilagam youth wing leader, Shyam Krishnasamy (Srivilliputtur), and TMMK leader John Pandian’s wife, J. Priscilla Pandian (Rajapalayam), are other major candidates in Virudhunagar district. 

The Naam Tamilar Katchi of Seeman and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam of actor C. Joseph Vijay have also fielded their candidates, without any alliance. 

Candidates from V.K. Sasikala’s All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK) are also in the fray. 

While the ruling DMK is contesting from four seats in Virudhunagar district, it arch rival AIADMK is fighting from five seats. 

The DMK’s allies, the Congress (Sivakasi) and CPI (Srivilliputtur), have fielded their candidates in two seats.

The AIADMK has given its remaining two seats to its ally BJP. TMMK’s J. Priscilla Pandian is contesting on the BJP’s ‘Lotus’ symbol from Rajapalayam. 

The DMK alliance had won six out of the seven Assembly seats, leaving Srivilliputtur alone to the AIADMK (alliance) in 2021.

— S. Sundar

Kilvelur (SC) constituency’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) candidate M. Karthika was involved in a heated argument with police officials at the Nagapattinam counting centre at the Bharathidasan Government Arts and Science College after she was not allowed to carry a pen inside the premises.

Police officials initially confiscated pens and pencils from candidates and their agents, stating that such items were not permitted inside the counting centre. When Ms. Karthika arrived, a packet containing pens and pencils in her possession and that of her agents was also seized, leading to a sharp exchange with the police officer.

She questioned the action, pointing out that the election authorities had permitted candidates and agents to carry writing materials, and asked why they were being confiscated despite this. 

Following the argument, the Additional Superintendent of Police directed Ms. Karthika and her agents to meet the election officer, who clarified that pens and pencils were allowed. The prolonged exchange at the entrance created a brief commotion at the venue — M. Nacchinarkkiniyan

The counting of votes polled across 234 constituencies across the State has begun. Postal votes are being counted first, following which votes polled on EVMs will be counted.

Here are the details on the counting tables set up for each of the 234 Assembly constituencies in 38 districts of Tamil Nadu for the counting of votes.

Officials ready at the counting table of Katpadi constituency counting centre in Vellore on Monday (May 4, 2026).

Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy /The Hindu

Basic facilities, including drinking water, refreshments, medical aid, sanitation and mobile phone deposit counters, have been arranged at the two counting centres for officials, candidates and agents. 

At the Government College of Engineering, transport arrangements have been made from the entrance to the counting halls. 

Separate rooms have been earmarked for media personnel. 

Officials and agents will not be permitted to carry mobile phones, laptops or any electronic gadgets into the counting halls. 

Arrangements have been made for the safe custody of such devices.

-S.P. Saravanan

Heavy three-layer security was deployed early morning on Monday (May 4) to prepare for the vote count of the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Dozens of security personnel were deployed at the gate of the college, with barricades in place as officials checked every vehicle coming in.

Loyola College is one of the counting centres that houses the EVMs for counting nearly 4.8 crore large votes polled. Queen Mary’s College and Anna University are also some of the other counting centres set up for today.

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Security has been ramped up in Tiruchi and elsewhere in the central region in view of counting of votes to be taken up on Monday as police teams are to be deployed at vantage locations with deployment of extra strength at the counting centres. The electronic voting machines have been safely kept inside the strong rooms in each counting centre following completion of polling on April 23.

The total number of counting centres in the central region is 12 of which three are in Thanjavur district and two in Tiruchi district. In Tiruchi district, the counting centres are at the Jamal Mohamed College in the city, falling under the limits of the Tiruchi City Police and at the OASYS Institute of Technology in Pulivalam which comes under the jurisdiction of the Tiruchi Rural Police.

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In Tamil Nadu’s political theatre, the arrival of a new political party in the electoral contest has served as both a launchpad for historic realignments as well as a graveyard for grand ambitions. With the high profile debut of actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the 2026 Assembly elections, expectations are high about whether his party could breach the Dravidian duopoly or merely dent its margins.

A cursory look at the history of electoral debuts of select political parties in Assembly elections held in the past in the State offers both a roadmap and a warning. For this analysis only the general elections to the Assembly was taken into consideration and not the byelection or Lok Sabha polls.

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For the first time in the last four Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, women have accounted for over 80% of additional voters in 2026.

Of about 25.3 lakh more votes polled this time than in the 2021 election, around 20.8 lakh have come from women, taking their share to approximately 82%. In the previous three elections (2011, 2016, and 2021), women had more or less shared the honours with men for the increase in voter turnout. The share in 2011 was a little less than 60%, whereas it was about 50% on the two other occasions.

Even though the share of women in additional voters this time has created an all-time high record, the tally of 20.8 lakh more women voters comes third in terms of absolute number, the highest being around 34.4 lakh in 2016 and 22.3 lakh in 2011. Five years ago, approximately 13.6 lakh more women turned up at the polling booths vis a vis 2016.

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday (May 3, 2026) said it would uphold the “highest standards of transparency, security and efficiency” during the counting of votes on Monday (May 4, 2026) for the elections to the Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and the bye-elections in seven Assembly constituencies of five States.

A record number of 4,87,98,833 voters, constituting 85.10% of the electorate in Tamil Nadu, will on Monday (May 4, 2026) determine to what extent the political landscape of the State, dominated for nearly half-a-century by the DMK and its offshoot AIADMK, is disrupted by reigning Kollywood superstar C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in its debut Assembly election.

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