Counting of votes for all 234 Tamil Nadu Assembly seats began at 8 am on Monday, with the ruling DMK alliance, AIADMK-BJP alliance and actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) locked in a high-stakes contest.
The majority mark in Tamil Nadu is 118 seats. Early trends indicate a close fight, while Vijay is leading from Perambur, one of the most closely watched seats in this election.
Chief Minister MK Stalin-led DMK is seeking another term in power along with Congress. The AIADMK, allied with the BJP, is trying to return to power. Meanwhile, Vijay’s TVK has emerged as the new factor in Tamil Nadu politics and is hoping for a strong debut.
Results
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026: Trends and Results
- TVK: 109
- AIADMK: 45
- DMK: 59
- PMK: 5
- INC: 5
- BJP: 3
- DMDK: 1
- VCK: 2
- CPI: 3
- IUML: 2
- AMMK: 1
- CPI(M): 1
LIVE
LIVE Updates 2:33 PM IST Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is leading in around 110 seats.
5:53 PM | MK Stalin Loses Kolathur as Vijay’s TVK Rises in Tamil Nadu
In a stunning political setback, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has lost from Kolathur, a seat long seen as his stronghold.
He was defeated by VS Babu, the candidate fielded by actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The result marks one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and signals the dramatic rise of TVK in the state’s political landscape.
5:53 PM | Vijay Wins Both Perambur and Trichy East Seats
Actor-politician Vijay has made a blockbuster electoral debut, winning from both Perambur and Trichy Eastconstituencies.
The double victory has turned into a defining moment for TVK, placing Vijay firmly at the centre of Tamil Nadu’s new political story.
5:45 PM | K Annamalai Accepts People’s Verdict, Congratulates Vijay
BJP leader K Annamalai has accepted the people’s verdict in Tamil Nadu and congratulated Vijay and TVK for their impressive performance.
He said he bows down to the people of Tamil Nadu for their mandate and added that he was happy to see the people speak in one voice. Annamalai also praised TVK’s entry into electoral politics, calling it a spectacular debut.
5:40 PM | Kolathur Winner VS Babu Collects Victory Certificate
After defeating Chief Minister MK Stalin in Kolathur, TVK candidate VS Babu reached the Loyola College counting centre to collect his winning certificate.
Babu’s win has made him one of the biggest giant-killers of the election, with Kolathur becoming the symbolic centre of TVK’s rise.
5:32 PM | Veteran Leader KA Sengottaiyan Wins 10th Term
Veteran politician KA Sengottaiyan has won the Gobichettipalayam seat in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Contesting this time on a TVK ticket, the 78-year-old secured around 71,380 votes and defeated DMK’s N Nallasivam by nearly 13,000 votes.
This marks Sengottaiyan’s 10th victory as a legislator, making the result important both for TVK and for Tamil Nadu’s long political history.
5:06 PM | TVK Dedicates Victory to Karur Stampede Victims
TVK leader Aadhava Arjuna has dedicated the party’s historic victory to the families of the 41 people who lost their lives in the Karur stampede.
He said Vijay’s victory and the success of TVK candidates were driven by deep emotional trust among voters, especially women, who saw Vijay as a son, brother and family member. He added that people accepted TVK candidates as their own, helping the party achieve a massive victory.
5:04 PM | TVK Candidates to Stay at Four Points Resort
Amid concerns over possible horse-trading, TVK candidates are likely to be shifted to Four Points Resort, according to sources.
The move comes as TVK’s strong performance has placed the party in a crucial position in Tamil Nadu politics.
4:48 PM | Congress May Back TVK, Say Sources
According to sources, the Congress has sent a report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, recommending support or an alliance with TVK.
The development comes as Vijay’s party emerges as a major political force in Tamil Nadu.
4:43 PM | “A Revolution After 50 Years,” Says TVK Functionary
TVK functionary Aadhava Arjuna has described the verdict as a “revolution after 50 years” of DMK-AIADMK dominance in Tamil Nadu.
He said misinformation had been spread against TVK and claimed that many had doubted whether the party could even win 10 seats. Arjuna added that the incoming government would focus on women and youth.
4:29 PM | What Vijay Got Right in Tamil Nadu Politics
Vijay’s TVK has emerged as the single-largest party in Tamil Nadu, surprising critics who doubted whether another film star could succeed in politics.
The result has placed Vijay apart from other cinema icons who entered politics, including Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. His direct connect with youth, women and emotionally invested voters appears to have played a major role in TVK’s success.
4:18 PM | Congress MP Karthi Chidambaram Congratulates Vijay
Congress MP Karthi Chidambaram has congratulated Vijay after TVK emerged as the single-largest party in Tamil Nadu.
His message comes amid growing political speculation over whether the Congress could support or align with TVK after the results.
4:38 PM | TVK Wins Eight Seats in Tamil Nadu
Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has made a major impact in the Tamil Nadu election results, registering victory in eight constituencies, according to the Election Commission.
The party’s winning candidates include:
MR Pallavi from Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar, VK Ramkumar from Anna Nagar, KA Sengottaiyan from Gobichettipalayam, R Vijaysaravanan from Thanjavur, G Saravanan from Srivaikuntam, RS Murughan from Tirunelveli, V Narayanan Reddiarpatti from Nanguneri, and Dr Sathish Christopher from Radhapuram.
The results mark a strong electoral breakthrough for TVK, which has quickly emerged as one of the biggest stories of the Tamil Nadu polls.
The DMK has secured victory in Udumalaipettai, with its candidate Jayakumar defeating AIADMK’s Radhakrishnan by more than 2,000 votes.
The win gives the DMK another boost as counting continues across Tamil Nadu, where the party is trying to recover ground in several key constituencies.
4:35 PM | DMK Wins Palayamkottai Seat
The DMK has added another seat to its tally, with Abdul Wahad winning from Palayamkottai.
Wahad defeated TVK candidate Maria John by more than 13,000 votes, making this an important victory for the DMK in a contest where TVK had also put up a strong fight.
4:28 PM | TVK’s MR Pallavi Wins Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar
TVK has scored another big win, with MR Pallavi emerging victorious from Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar by a margin of more than 22,000 votes.
The victory adds to TVK’s growing list of wins, with the party having already secured seats like Anna Nagar and Thanjavur earlier in the day.
- 4:15 PM | TVK Emerges as Single-Largest Party in Trends
As of the latest trends around 4:10 PM, TVK has emerged as the single-largest party in Tamil Nadu, according to the Election Commission.
The DMK is leading in 58 seats, while the AIADMK is ahead in 47 seats. The DMK-led alliance has also registered wins in four seats, while TVK has won two seats at this stage of counting.
This trend points to a major political shift in Tamil Nadu, with TVK making a strong entry into the state’s electoral landscape.
- 4:03 PM | TVK Wins Anna Nagar in Chennai
TVK has registered a major victory in Chennai’s Anna Nagar constituency, with VK Ramkumar winning the seat.
Anna Nagar is one of the key urban constituencies, and TVK’s win here is being seen as a significant moment for the party. The Election Commission also confirmed that TVK has won the Thanjavur seat.
- 3:56 PM | AIADMK Leads in Karur
In Karur, AIADMK candidate MR Vijayabhaskar is leading, according to the Election Commission.
Karur recorded the highest voter turnout in Tamil Nadu at 92.62%, making the seat one of the most closely followed contests of the day.
- 3:44 PM | DMK Wins Three Seats; Congress Opens Account in Melur
The DMK has won three seats in Tamil Nadu so far — Gudalur, Coonoor, and Valparai.
Its key alliance partner, the Congress, has also registered a victory from Melur, giving the DMK-led alliance an early boost as counting continues.
- 3:36 PM | TVK Wins Thanjavur
TVK has opened its account in a big way, with R Vijaysaravanan winning from Thanjavur by more than 16,000 votes.
The DMK candidate finished second from the constituency. The win is a major moment for TVK and signals the party’s growing appeal in Tamil Nadu politics.
2:22 PM IST
- Vijay’s parents reacted happily to TVK’s strong performance.
- His mother, Shoba Chandrasekhar, said she was very happy.
- His father, SA Chandrasekhar, said Vijay’s mother is his “first fan”.
- The family’s reaction came as TVK continued to maintain a strong lead across Tamil Nadu.
2:18 PM IST
- MK Stalin gained some ground in the Kolathur constituency.
- However, he was still trailing behind TVK candidate VS Babu.
- As per trends around this time, Stalin was behind by 8,048 votes.
- Kolathur has become one of the biggest headline contests of the election.
2:16 PM IST
- Vijay is leading strongly from both Trichy East and Perambur.
- In Trichy East, Vijay was ahead with 12,015 votes after eight rounds of counting.
- In Perambur, he was leading by 19,100 votes after eight rounds.
- These strong leads have further boosted TVK’s momentum.
2:11 PM IST
- TVK was still ahead of the majority mark of 118 seats.
- AIADMK+ was leading in around 55 seats.
- DMK+ was ahead in around 47 seats.
- The trends showed TVK comfortably ahead of both major Dravidian parties.
2:06 PM IST
- Udhayanidhi Stalin made a comeback in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.
- He was leading against TVK candidate Selvam D by around 1,048 votes.
- This brought some relief for the DMK camp amid a difficult day in several seats.
2:01 PM IST
- BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan was trailing in the Mylapore seat.
- TVK candidate Venkataramanan P was leading with 18,182 votes.
- The result trend in Mylapore reflected TVK’s strong impact even in high-profile contests.
1:49 PM IST
- TVK crossed the majority mark in trends.
- Vijay’s party was leading in around 120 seats.
- DMK and AIADMK were both struggling below the 60-seat mark.
- This was one of the biggest moments of the counting day.
1:40 PM IST
- BJP was leading in only one out of the 26 seats it contested.
- BJP candidate Nagesh Kumar C was leading from Thalli.
- The BJP contested as a key ally of AIADMK.
1:36 PM IST
- TVK leader Nanjil Sampath called the trends a historical victory.
- He said TVK’s rise showed people were ready to move beyond traditional Dravidian politics.
- He also said he had not seen this level of public support for a new party in Tamil Nadu for a long time.
1:33 PM IST
- As per Election Commission trends, TVK was leading in 109 seats.
- AIADMK was ahead in 57 seats.
- DMK was leading in 49 seats.
- TVK remained the single-largest party at this stage.
1:27 PM IST
- TVK candidate T Arunkumar was leading from Thiruvallur.
- He was ahead by 6,505 votes after 11 rounds of counting.
- DMK was in second position, followed by AIADMK.
1:15 PM IST
- DMK candidate KN Nehru was leading in Trichy West.
- He was ahead by 3,878 votes after the 17th round of counting.
- TVK was in second position in this seat.
1:10 PM IST
- TVK candidate VS Babu was leading against MK Stalin in Kolathur.
- VS Babu had 41,616 votes, while Stalin had 33,641 votes.
- This gave the TVK candidate a lead of nearly 7,975 votes at that point.
1:04 PM IST
- TVK was ahead in 116 seats out of the trends available for 227 seats.
- AIADMK+ was leading in 59 seats.
- DMK+ was leading in 48 seats.
- The majority mark in Tamil Nadu is 118 seats.
1:00 PM IST
- CPI(M) candidates were leading in two seats.
- In Palani, CPI(M)’s Pandi N was ahead by a thin margin.
- In Padmanabhapuram, CPI(M)’s Chellaswamy R was leading.
- 12:10 PM: Congress is leading in five constituencies, according to data available on the Election Commission website. The party is ahead in Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvadanai, Cuddalore, Vilavancode and Colachal.
- 12:07 PM: Vijay’s TVK has slipped below the majority mark after a strong early show. As of 12:05 PM, the party is still leading in 117 constituencies, making it the single largest party in the state trends so far.
- 12:01 PM: A DMK worker, Lakshmi Priya, said that many people in Tamil Nadu are looking for change and believe TVK’s rise could bring a “good change”. She also said that Vijay could become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
- 11:58 AM: TVK had earlier crossed the majority mark in early trends. As of 12 noon, the party was leading in 122 seats, while the AIADMK+ was ahead of the ruling DMK with leads in 65 seats.
- 11:52 AM: Vijay has emerged as a popular choice for the Chief Minister post in exit poll projections. According to Axis My India, Vijay received 37 per cent support as preferred CM, while current Chief Minister MK Stalin received 35 per cent.
- 11:48 AM: Election Commission trends showed TVK leading in 108 seats around 11:46 AM. The AIADMK was in second place, while the ruling DMK was at the third spot with 41 seats.
- 11:43 AM: TVK’s lead started declining after touching higher numbers earlier in the day. According to Pvalue data, TVK was ahead in 161 seats, down from its earlier lead in 171 constituencies. The AIADMK coalition was leading in 40 seats at that point.
- 11:36 AM: TVK candidate VK Ramkumar is leading in Anna Nagar by 6,743 votes after six rounds of counting. DMK candidate N Chitrarasu is in second place.
- 11:28 AM: O Panneerselvam is ahead in Bodinayakanur by more than 2,604 votes. TVK candidate Prakash S is trailing from the seat.
- 11:24 AM: TVK candidate Ananth Moghan KK is leading in Erode West by 2,189 votes. DMK candidate S Muthuswami is currently in second place.
Also Read: 23 Dead in Virudhunagar: Tamil Nadu's Fireworks Tragedy That Keeps Repeating
The DMK-led alliance contested a large number of seats, with Congress also fighting as its key partner. On the other side, AIADMK contested the maximum seats in its alliance, while BJP, PMK and AMMK were also in the fray.
Exit polls had given different pictures of the contest. Most surveys predicted an advantage for the DMK alliance, while some projected a strong performance by Vijay’s TVK. Axis My India had suggested a much tighter battle, with TVK likely to make a major impact.
The Election Commission has made tight security arrangements at all counting centres. More than 10,000 personnel have been deployed for counting duty, along with over 4,600 micro-observers. A three-layer security system has been put in place outside and inside counting centres.
Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections was held in a single phase on April 23. The state recorded a historic voter turnout of 84.69 per cent, the highest since Independence. Karur recorded the highest turnout at 92.62 per cent, while Kanniyakumari recorded the lowest at 75.61 per cent.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, DMK won 133 seats and returned to power, while Congress won 18 seats. AIADMK won 66 seats, BJP won 4 and PMK won 5.
All eyes are now on the final trends as Tamil Nadu waits to see whether DMK retains power, AIADMK makes a comeback, or Vijay’s TVK changes the political equation in the state.
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