2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election
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All 234 elected seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly 118 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Opinion polls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Map of the assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Legislative Assembly elections are expected to be held in Tamil Nadu in April–May 2026 to elect all 234 members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Background
Elections to a State Legislative Assembly in India are usually held once in five years, and the members of the legislative assembly are directly elected to serve five year terms from single-member constituencies. The previous assembly elections were held in April 2021 to elect the 234 members of the 16th Tamil Nadu Assembly, and the tenure of the assembly ends on 10 May 2026.[1] In the previous election, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) formed the state government after winning 159 of the 234 seats, and M. K. Stalin sworn in as the chief minister.[2][3] The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which won 66 seats, became the principal opposition party and its leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami was elected and served as the leader of the opposition.[4]
In June 2022, three members–O. Panneerselvam, P. H. Manoj Pandian, and R. Vaithilingam were expelled from the AIADMK.[5] In August 2022, P. Ayyappan of the AIADMK also joined the expelled faction.[6] K. A. Sengottaiyan was expelled from AIADMK in October 2025,[7] and subsequently resigned from his position as a member of the assembly in November 2025.[8] Manoj Pandian resigned as a member of the assembly in November 2025 and joined the DMK,[9] with Vaithilingam following suit in January 2026.[10] In late 2025, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) split into two factions, with three members expressing support to Anbumani Ramadoss and two members supporting S. Ramadoss.[11][12] After Anbumani was recognised as the official leader of the PMK, Ramadoss formed a splinter faction of the PMK.[13] Two members–T. K. Amulkandasami (AIADMK) and K. Ponnusamy (DMK) died on 21 June 2025 and 23 October 2025 respectively.[14][15]
| 2021 election | January 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Seats | Party | Seats | ||
| DMK | 133 | DMK | 133 | ||
| AIADMK | 66 | AIADMK | 60 | ||
| Independent | 2 | ||||
| INC | 18 | INC | 17 | ||
| PMK | 5 | PMK | 3 | ||
| PMK(R) | 2 | ||||
| BJP | 4 | BJP | 4 | ||
| VCK | 4 | VCK | 4 | ||
| CPI(M) | 2 | CPI(M) | 2 | ||
| CPI | 2 | CPI | 2 | ||
| Vacant | 0 | Vacant | 5 | ||
| Total | 234 | - | 234 | ||
Schedule
| Poll event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | |
| Deadline for filing nomination | |
| Scrutiny of nominations | |
| Deadline for withdrawal of nomination | |
| Polling | |
| Counting of votes |
Parties and alliances
Secular Progressive Alliance
In March 2024, Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam joined the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).[16] Other parties which formed part of the DMK-led alliance, that won all the 39 seats in the state in the 2024 general election, remained with the alliance.[17]
| Secular Progressive Alliance | ||||||
| Party | Flag | Symbol | Leader | Seats | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 
|
|
M. K. Stalin | |||
| Indian National Congress | 
|
|
K. Selvaperunthagai[18] | |||
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 
|
_election_symbol_-_Hammer_Sickle_and_Star.svg.png){kind=small}
|
P. Shanmugam | |||
| Communist Party of India | 
|
|
M. Veerapandian | |||
| Indian Union Muslim League | 
|
|
K. M. Kader Mohideen | |||
| Adhi Tamilar Peravai | 
|
R. Athiyaman | ||||
| Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi | 
|
E. R. Eswaran | ||||
| Makkal Needhi Maiam | 
|
|
Kamal Haasan | |||
| Manithaneya Makkal Katchi | 
|
M. H. Jawahirullah | ||||
| Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 
|
Vaiko | ||||
| Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi | 
|
T. Velmurugan[19] | ||||
| Makkal Viduthalai Katchi | S. K. Murugavel Rajan | |||||
| Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi | 
|
|
Thol. Thirumavalavan | |||
| Total | ||||||
AIADMK-led Alliance
On 25 September 2023, the AIADMK withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[20][21] In the 2024 general election, the AIADMK-led Alliance and the BJP-led NDA contested separately and both did not win any seat in the state.[22][23] On 11 April 2025, both the parties reunited to form an alliance,[24][25] with Palaniswami as the chief ministerial candidate.[26][27]
On 7 January 2026, the PMK, led by Anbumani, formally joined the AIADMK-led front.[28] On 21 January 2026, T. T. V. Dhinakaran–led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam joined the alliance.[29]
| AIADMK-led Alliance | ||||||
| Party | Flag | Symbol | Leader | Seats | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 
|
|
Edappadi K. Palaniswami | |||
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 
|
|
Nainar Nagenthran | |||
| All India Forward Bloc | 
|
|
P. V. Kathiravan | |||
| Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam | 
|
|
T. T. V. Dhinakaran | |||
| Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi | 
|
T. R. Paarivendhar | ||||
| Pattali Makkal Katchi | 
|
|
Anbumani Ramadoss | |||
| Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi | 
|
N. R. Dhanapalan | ||||
| Puratchi Bharatham Katchi | 
|
M. Jagan Moorthy | ||||
| Puthiya Needhi Katchi | 
|
A. C. Shanmugam | ||||
| South Indian Forward Bloc | K. C. Thirumaran | |||||
| Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) | 
|
G. K. Vasan | ||||
| Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam | 
|
B. John Pandian | ||||
| Uzhavar Uzhaippalar Katchi | 
|
Vettavalam Manikandan | ||||
| Total | ||||||
Others
On 2 February 2024, Vijay announced the formation of his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), stating that it would contest the 2026 elections.[30][31] In February 2025, All India N.R. Congress, the ruling party in the nearby union territory of Puducherry announced its intention to contest in the Tamil Nadu state elections.[32] In December 2025, Naam Tamilar Katchi announced that it will contest solo across all the constituencies in the state, and release its first list of candidates.[33]
| Party | Flag | Symbol | Leader | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahujan Samaj Party | 
|
|
P. Anandan | ||
| All India N.R. Congress | 
|
|
N. Rangasamy[32] | ||
| Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam | 
|
|
Premalatha | ||
| Naam Tamilar Katchi | 
|
Seeman[33] | 234[33] | ||
| Pattali Makkal Katchi (S. Ramadoss Faction) |
|
S. Ramadoss | |||
| Puthiya Tamilagam | 
|
K. Krishnasamy | |||
| Social Democratic Party of India | 
|
Mohamed Mubarak | |||
| Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam[34] | 
|
Vijay[30] | |||
Candidates
Campaign
On 1 June 2025, DMK president and chief minister M. K. Stalin launched 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu' (Tamil Nadu as one team), an enrollment drive to add new party members and urged the party cadres to enroll at least 30% of voters in each polling booth to the party through a door-to-door outreach.[35][36]
On 7 July 2025, AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami launched a statewide campaign with the slogan 'Let's Protect the People, Let's Save Tamil Nadu'.[37][38]
On 13 September 2025, TVK president Vijay launched his party's election campaign in Tiruchirappalli, with subsequent rallies planned on weekends.[39][40] However, following a crowd crush that resulted in the deaths of 41 people and injuries to 80-120 others, during a political rally hosted by he TVK in Karur, he suspended the campaign temporarily.[41][42]
Following an order of the Madras High Court,[43] the Government of Tamil Nadu announced new rules and guidelines for political rallies in the state in January 2026.[44]
Surveys and polls
Opinion polls
| Polling agency | Date published | Sample size | Margin of error | Lead | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPA | AIADMK+ | Others |
| Polling agency | Date published | Sample size | Margin of error | Lead | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPA | AIADMK+ | Others |
Exit polls
| Polling agency | Date published | Sample size | Margin of error | Lead | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPA | AIADMK+ | Others |
Results
Results by alliance or party
| Alliance/ Party | Popular vote | Seats | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Contested | Won | +/− | ||||
| SPA | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||||||||
| Indian National Congress | |||||||||
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | |||||||||
| Communist Party of India | |||||||||
| Indian Union Muslim League | |||||||||
| Makkal Needhi Maiam | |||||||||
| Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | |||||||||
| Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi | |||||||||
| Total | |||||||||
| AIADMK+ | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | ||||||||
| Bharatiya Janata Party | |||||||||
| Pattali Makkal Katchi | |||||||||
| Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam | |||||||||
| Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) | |||||||||
| Total | |||||||||
| Other parties | |||||||||
| Independents | |||||||||
| NOTA | |||||||||
| Total | 100% | — | 234 | — | |||||
Results by district
| District | Seats | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPA | AIADMK+ | Others | ||
| Thiruvallur | 6 | |||
| Chennai | 22 | |||
| Kancheepuram | 3 | |||
| Chengalpattu | 6 | |||
| Ranipet | 4 | |||
| Vellore | 5 | |||
| Thirupattur | 4 | |||
| Krishnagiri | 6 | |||
| Dharmapuri | 5 | |||
| Thiruvanamalai | 8 | |||
| Villupuram | 7 | |||
| Kallakurichi | 4 | |||
| Salem | 11 | |||
| Namakkal | 6 | |||
| Erode | 8 | |||
| Nilgiris | 3 | |||
| Thiruppur | 8 | |||
| Coimbatore | 10 | |||
| Dindigal | 7 | |||
| Karur | 4 | |||
| Tiruchirapalli | 9 | |||
| Perambalur | 2 | |||
| Ariyalur | 2 | |||
| Cuddalore | 9 | |||
| Mayiladuthurai | 3 | |||
| Nagapattinam | 3 | |||
| Thiruvarur | 4 | |||
| Thanjavur | 8 | |||
| Pudukottai | 6 | |||
| Sivaganga | 4 | |||
| Madurai | 10 | |||
| Theni | 4 | |||
| Virudhunagar | 7 | |||
| Ramanathapuram | 4 | |||
| Thoothukudi | 6 | |||
| Tenkasi | 5 | |||
| Tirunelveli | 5 | |||
| Kanyakumari | 6 | |||
| Total | 234 |
Results by constituency
See also
- Elections in Tamil Nadu – Overview of the procedure of elections in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
- Politics of Tamil Nadu – Politics related to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
References
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- ^ "Assembly elections 2021: DMK reclaims power in Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. 5 May 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "DMK chief MK Stalin takes oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister". India Today. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "Edappadi Palaniswami elected as Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly". The Indian Express. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ "AIADMK Expels OPS, His Supporters From Party; Defiant Leader Vows Action". NDTV. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "Usilampatti MLA switches over to Panneerselvam camp". The Hindu. 27 August 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ Jesudasan, Dennis S. (31 October 2025). "Tamil Nadu MLA Sengottaiyan expelled from AIADMK a day after his meeting with Panneerselvam, Dhinakaran, Sasikala". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "Expelled AIADMK veteran Sengottaiyan joins Vijay's TVK". The Hindu. 27 November 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "AIADMK MLA Manoj Pandian joins DMK, resigns as MLA". The Times of India. 5 November 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Former AIADMK Minister R. Vaithilingam joins DMK". The Hindu. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
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- ^ "Valparai AIADMK MLA Amul Kandasamy passes away at 60". The Hindu. 21 June 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu: Senthamangalam DMK MLA K. Ponnusamy passes away". The Hindu. 23 October 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
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- ^ "BJP announces alliance with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu ahead of 2026 elections, EPS to be CM candidate". India TV. 11 April 2025.
- ^ "Edappadi - Amit Shah will take all alliance decisions: BJP to cadre in fresh gag order". DT Next. 19 April 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
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- ^ a b "Thalapathy Vijay Launches Political Party, Names it Tamizha Vetri Kazhagam - www.lokmattimes.com". Lokmat Times. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Thalapathy' Vijay Launches Political Party: Thamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ a b "AINRC to enter poll fray in Tamil Nadu during 2026 Assembly election". The Hindu. 7 February 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "NTK releases first lits of candidates". DT Next. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
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- ^ "EPS launches AIADMK campaign logo for 2026 TN polls, gives out call to 'remove evil DMK govt'". ThePrint. ANI. 5 July 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
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- ^ "'Vijay is coming': Tamil star kicks off Assembly poll campaign, targets DMK and BJP over broken promises". The Indian Express. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "Vijay launches election campaign in Trichy, says TVK will make only practical and implementable promises". The Times of India. 13 September 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "39 die in stampede during TVK leader Vijay's Karur campaign". The Times of India. 28 September 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "TVK rally stampede highlights: Madurai Bench of Madras High Court to hear TVK's case on September 29". The Hindu. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "Court Orders Making Rules For Rallies By Political Parties". NDTV. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
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