Elections to appoint the 234 members of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the highest body of the Government of Tamil Nadu, were held on 23 April 2026. The results were declared on 4 May 2026 by the Election Commission of India. It recorded the highest voter turnout in the state's history (85.1%). The new party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), founded by Tamil actor C. Joseph Vijay, won in its first-ever election and ended a 59-year streak of dominance of Dravidian parties in the state.
The TVK contested alone in 233 constituencies. It positioned itself as a rival to the oscillating duopoly of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and an ideological opponent of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling party of the Government of India. The incumbent DMK led the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which was part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance led by the Lok Sabha opposition, the Indian National Congress (INC); the SPA swept all the 39 seats in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The opposition AIADMK was part of the BJP's National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Nearly all exit poll agencies projected a second consecutive term for the DMK. In an upset result, the TVK emerged as the single largest party above the DMK and AIADMK, amassing 108 seats but short of majority (118). The SPA was reduced to 73 seats, with the DMK securing 59 and the INC five. The NDA won 53 seats, with the AIADMK securing 47 and the BJP only one. This created Tamil Nadu's first hung assembly. The AIADMK lost its official opposition status to the DMK.
Dubbed a watershed moment in modern Tamil Nadu history, the election marked the first time a non-Dravidian party emerged as the largest party in the assembly since the 1960s, breaking a tradition of power alternating between the DMK and the AIADMK. The outgoing Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. K. Stalin of the DMK, lost his election from the Kolathur constituency where he had previously won thrice consecutively. The TVK's chief-ministerial candidate Vijay won both the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies he contested. The AIADMK's former Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, retained Edappadi with the widest winning margin in the state. On 5 May 2026, Stalin resigned as Chief Minister. In the next few days, Vijay met the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Rajendra Arlekar, multiple times to stake claim to the formation of the new government, resulting in tensions and uncertainty. Vijay pursued a majority by inviting SPA parties other than DMK to render their support; INC left the SPA and joined the TVK government, while four other SPA parties extended their support to a TVK-led coalition government without leaving the alliance. Upon confirming a majority to Arlekar, Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister on 10 May 2026. His government passed the floor test on 13 May.
Political critics and journalists stated that the anti-incumbency against the DMK government, Vijay's mobilization of his fanclubs into an unified party, TVK's well-funded and highly organized digital campaign portraying itself as a fresh, corruption-free alternative as opposed to the perceived fatigue over the Dravidian tenures as major factors that fueled Vijay's success, drawing comparisons with former actor-turned-Chief Ministers M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa. Analysts reported that TVK hauled the votebanks of both the DMK and AIADMK, pulling their youth, women, urban, and first-time voters irrespective of caste or religious affiliations, and attributed Vijay's appeal more to a promise of change rather than a meticulous ideology, highlighting the party's extensive and instrumental use of social media.
By June 2026, seven assembly seats had become vacant as Vijay resigned one of his two seats, and six AIADMK MLAs resigned their seats to join TVK, drawing horse-trading allegations from critics argued that these are attempts by the TVK government to obtain an absolute majority. Two of the six defectors re-contested in the 6 October 2026 by-elections under TVK and gained both the seats for the party, increasing its house strength to 109. By-elections of the remaining four seats are to be announced.
Background
Elections to state legislative assemblies 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. 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. 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.
In June 2022, three members–O. Panneerselvam, P. H. Manoj Pandian, and R. Vaithilingam were expelled from the AIADMK. In August 2022, P. Ayyappan of the AIADMK also joined the expelled faction. K. A. Sengottaiyan was expelled from AIADMK in October 2025, and subsequently resigned from his position as a member of the assembly in November 2025. Manoj Pandian resigned as a member of the assembly in November 2025 and joined the DMK, with Vaithilingam following suit in January 2026. 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. After Anbumani was recognised as the official leader of the PMK, Ramadoss formed a splinter faction of the PMK. Two members–T. K. Amulkandasami (AIADMK) and K. Ponnusamy (DMK) died on 21 June 2025 and 23 October 2025 respectively. On 27 February 2026, Pannerselvam and Ayyappan resigned from the assembly and joined the DMK.
Schedule
The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the election on 15 March 2026.
Parties and alliances
Secular Progressive Alliance
On 9 March 2024, Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam joined the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). Parties which formed part of the DMK-led alliance –Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, that won all the 39 seats in the state in the 2024 general election, remained with the alliance despite emerging strains during subsequent seat-sharing negotiations.
On 19 February 2026, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam joined the DMK-led alliance. On 22 March 2026, T. Velmurugan-led Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi withdrew its support to the DMK-led SPA. On 24 March 2026, Haasan announced that the Makkal Needhi Maiam would not contest the election, and would extended its support to the alliance. On 28 March 2026, DMK president Stalin released the party's candidate list for the assembly elections. The Congress released its list of candidates on 3 April 2026.
AIADMK-led Alliance
On 25 September 2023, the AIADMK withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 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. On 11 April 2025, both the parties reunited to form an alliance, with Palaniswami as the chief ministerial candidate. On 7 January 2026, the PMK, led by Anbumani, formally joined the AIADMK-led front. On 21 January 2026, T. T. V. Dhinakaran–led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) joined the alliance.
On 15 March 2026, the AIADMK constituted a four-member committee to hold consultations with its allies for seat sharing. On 23 March 2026, the AIADMK announced that it had finalised seat-sharing agreements with its principle allies, BJP, PMK and AMMK. On 25 March 2026, AIADMK released its first list of 23 candidates. The party released its second list, comprising 127 candidates on 27 March, and the final list of 17 candidates on 29 March 2026. On 30 March 2026, the PMK released the list of its candidates for the polls. The BJP released its list of candidates on 3 April 2026.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
On 2 February 2024, actor C. Joseph Vijay announced the formation of his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), stating that it would contest the 2026 elections. On 18 March 2026, Vijay announced that the TVK will contest solo in all the 234 constituencies, and announced all the candidate list on 29 March 2026.
AJPK–AIPTMMK Alliance
On 20 March 2026, the Ramadoss-led faction of the PMK, joined hands with All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, led by V. K. Sasikala, to contest the assembly elections. On 30 March 2026, Ramadoss released first list of five candidates and Sasikala released a list of 21 candidates. On 31 March 2026, PMK(R) released a second list of candidates for ten constituencies. On 31 March 2026, AIPMMK released a second list of 38 candidates. On 1 April, Sasikala released a third list of five candidates. On 2 April, Ramadoss released the third and fourth list of ten and eight candidates respectively. On 4 April 2026, Sasikala released a fourth list of nine candidates.
Others
In February 2026, Naam Tamilar Katchi released its list of 234 candidates for the polls. Puthiya Tamilagam released its first list of 43 candidates for the elections on 29 March 2026, and followed it up with a second list of 27 candidates on the next day.
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.
Party-wise contest
Note: As per the party of the official symbol on which candidates contested.
As per the Election Commission, 4,023 candidates contested across the 234 constituencies in the state. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms, 404 out of the 722 candidates representing the major political parties had serious criminal cases pending them. Amongst these, 60 out of 170 candidates (35.3%) from the AIADMK, 43 out of 231 (18.6%) from the TVK, 32 out of 175 (18.3%) from the DMK, nine out of 33 (27.3%) from the BJP, five out of 28 (17.9%) from the Congress, six out of 18 (33.3%) from the PMK, one each from the DMDK and CPI declared serious criminal cases in their affidavits.
Campaign
Following an order of the Madras High Court, the Government of Tamil Nadu announced new rules and guidelines for political rallies in the state in January 2026.
Secular Progressive Alliance
On 1 June 2025, DMK president 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. On 24 March, the party released a song for its campaign with the theme "Stalin Thodarattum, Tamil Nadu Vellattum" (let Stalin continue, let Tamil Nadu triumph).
On 29 March 2026, Stalin released the party's manifesto for the elections. It promised ₹8,000 (US$85) coupons for non–income tax-paying homemakers to purchase household appliances, extension of the chief minister's breakfast scheme in government schools till class eight, free laptops to all government college students, enhancement of the monthly entitlement for women to ₹2,000 (US$21), increase in old-age pension from ₹1,200 (US$13) to ₹2,000 (US$21), and provision of ₹2,500 (US$27) for persons with disabilities. It also proposed expanding coverage under the state government insurance scheme to ₹1.5 million (US$16,000) and construction of a million houses for the poor. Other proposals included the procurement of 10,000 new buses, development of high-quality bus shelters, introduction of mini-bus services in remote areas, expansion of Coimbatore International Airport, establishment of a cargo terminal at Thoothukudi Airport, ₹100 billion (US$1.1 billion) for beautification of roads and parks in urban areas, and establishment of future-ready global cities near major cities. The party proposed to attract foreign investment of about ₹1,800 trillion (US$19 trillion), and creation of employment opportunities for five million youth. In the agriculture sector, it included provision for distribution of free pump sets to two million farmers, increase in procurement price of paddy and sugarcane, raising milk procurement price by ₹5 (5.3¢ US) per litre, desilting of 15,500 km of irrigation canals, and financial assistance to fishermen during fishing ban and low-catch periods. It also proposed interest-free loans up to ₹0.5 million (US$5,300) for self-help groups, establishment of a library to promote awareness of the anti-Hindi imposition movement, and introduction of capital punishment for crimes against children below eight years of age.
AIADMK-led Alliance
On 7 July 2025, AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami launched a statewide campaign with the slogan "Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom" (let's protect the people, let's save Tamil Nadu).
On 24 March 2026, AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami released the party's election manifesto, which contained 297 promises. The manifesto proposed a range of welfare and economic measures, including a monthly assistance of ₹2,000 (US$21) for women, a ₹10,000 (US$110) relief payment per family to address rising prices, monthly assistance of ₹2,000 (US$21) for unemployed graduates, subsidiary of ₹25,000 (US$270) for working women to buy two-wheelers, and an increase in pension benefits to ₹2,000 (US$21) for senior citizens. It also proposed waiver of education and crop loans, provision of free refrigerators to poor families, three free LPG cylinders per year, and extension of free travel in local government buses to men. The party further proposed the increase of mandatory work days from 100 to 150 days under the rural employment scheme, increase of quota for government school students to 10% in government medical colleges and full coverage of major medical expenses for major treatments for state insurance holders. Additional measures included subsidies for solar power installations, revival of the marriage assistance scheme, expansion of subsidised government clinics, implementation of prohibition by closing liquor shops in phases, higher minimum support prices for paddy and sugarcane, and provision of free pulses and cooking oil through the Public Distribution System.
Naam Tamilar Katchi
On 22 March 2026, the NTK announced the first phase of its election campaign schedule, stating that the party's chief coordinator, Seeman, would address nine public meetings by the end of March 2026.
On 27 March 2026, Seeman released the party's election manifesto, which included administrative reforms such as the creation of multiple functional capitals for the state, equal representation for women in legislative bodies, and fair pricing for farmers and fishermen, and other welfare schemes. It also proposed plans for the conservation of natural resources, food security, waste management, climate change and sustainability.
Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam
On 13 September 2025, TVK president Vijay launched his party's election campaign in Tiruchirappalli, with subsequent rallies planned on weekends. 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 TVK in Karur, he suspended the campaign temporarily. During the campaigning, Adhav Arjuna, the general secretary of the TVK, made controversial remarks about actor Rajinikanth, which criticism from politicians and public. Vijay started his campaign for the elections on 30 March 2026, after filing his nomination to contest the elections from the Perambur Assembly constituency.
On 29 March 2026, Vijay released the manifesto for the elections. The TVK manifesto promised drug free state, job assurance to youth, collateral-free education and startup loans, and monthly financial assistance to students.