Polling hours are from 7 am to 6 pm. With over 5.67 crore voters and more than 75,000 polling booths, Tamil Nadu heads into one of its most closely watched assembly elections in recent memory.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu Elections 2026 voting time, documents you should carry and full polling process explained
Tamil Nadu Elections 2026: Political landscape explained
The contest is four-cornered, with the ruling DMK leading the Secular Progressive Alliance, the AIADMK heading its own alliance, and Naam Tamilar Katchi and actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in the fray independently. The magic number for a majority in the 234-seat house is 118. The tenure of the current assembly ends on May 10, 2026.
In the 2021 elections, the DMK-led alliance won 159 of 234 seats, with M.K. Stalin sworn in as Chief Minister. The AIADMK won 66 seats and became the principal opposition party.This time, the DMK’s Secular Progressive Alliance includes the Indian National Congress, CPI(M), CPI, MDMK, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam extended its support to the alliance without fielding candidates.
The AIADMK and the BJP, which had contested separately in the 2024 general elections and won no seats in Tamil Nadu, reunited in April 2025 with Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate. The PMK, led by Anbumani Ramadoss, and T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam are also part of this front.
BJP & Congress: Expanding influence in Tamil Nadu
The BJP is contesting as part of the AIADMK-led alliance, fielding candidates in select constituencies as it seeks to establish a foothold in a state where it has historically had limited presence. The Indian National Congress, a constituent of the DMK-led SPA, is fielding 28 candidates, banking on the alliance’s incumbency and its own organisational base in pockets of the state.
Key leaders to watch: Tamil Nadu 2026 elections
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is contesting from Kolathur, his home seat. Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin is defending Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni. Edappadi K. Palaniswami contests from his home constituency in the Salem belt, with the AIADMK’s performance there seen as central to the party’s revival prospects. Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who joined the DMK, is contesting from Bodinayakkanur in Theni district.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is contesting solo across all 234 constituencies. Vijay filed his nomination from Perambur in North Chennai, a traditional DMK stronghold, where he faces incumbent MLA R.D. Shekar. NTK chief Seeman is contesting from Karaikudi in southern Tamil Nadu.
Early trends, ground sentiment & possible outcomes
Tamil Nadu has 5,67,07,380 registered voters; 2,77,38,925 male, 2,89,60,838 female, and 7,617 third gender voters, heading to over 75,000 polling booths tomorrow. Over 12.5 lakh are first-time voters. The entry of Vijay’s TVK contesting all 234 seats marks a significant departure from the state’s traditional two-front dynamic, with vote fragmentation a key variable across constituencies.
Under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no public meetings, processions, or campaign-related gatherings are permitted until polling closes on April 23. The dissemination of election content through television, radio, and social media platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, and X is strictly prohibited. Violations can attract imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both.
How to vote?
Voters whose names appear on the electoral roll can cast their ballot using any of the 12 alternative photo identity documents approved by the ECI, including Aadhaar, PAN card, passport, or driving licence, in addition to the Voter ID card.
Separate queues are maintained for men, women, and senior citizens or persons with disabilities. Canvassing or displaying party material within 100 metres of a polling station is a punishable offence. Any voter in the queue before 6 pm must be allowed to cast their vote.
Senior citizens aged 85 and above and persons with disabilities meeting the 40 per cent benchmark are eligible for home voting. Booth details can be checked on the NVSP portal or via SMS, type ECI followed by the EPIC number and send to 1950.
April 23 is a dry day. All liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, and establishments selling alcohol are prohibited from operating. The state government has also declared it a public holiday. Counting begins May 4.
