Published May 04, 2026 | 12:44 PM ⚊ Updated May 04, 2026 | 12:57 PM
BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar and TVK chief Vijay. Credit: x.com/TVKVijayHQ, x.com/RajeevRC_X
Synopsis: Early counting in Kerala and Tamil Nadu shows dramatic contests, with BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Shobha Surendran leading. Meanwhile, CM Pinarayi Vijayan is currently leading in Dharmadam after initial hiccups. Also, Health Minister Veena George is trailing. In Vatakara, RMP’s KK Rema leads on TP Chandrasekharan’s martyrdom day. In Tamil Nadu, actor Vijay and TVK candidates surge ahead, challenging DMK heavyweights.
Early rounds of counting in Kerala and Tamil Nadu have produced striking trends, with several key leaders trailing and unexpected challengers gaining ground.
In Kerala, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar leads in Nemom by 2,943 votes after four rounds, while Minister V Sivankutty trails.
Meanwhile, in Palakkad, BJP’s Shobha Surendran is ahead by 2,728 votes. However, in Manjeswaram, BJP’s K Surendran is trailing by 10,288 votes to IUML’s AKM Ashraf.
Also Read: Pinarayi Vijayan drops ‘Chief Minister’ title from social media hours before Kerala vote count
Ambalapuzha: Rebel candidate G Sudhakaran, backed by UDF, leads by 4,109 votes.
Aranmula: Health Minister Veena George trails by 6,341 votes to UDF’s Abin Varkey.
Dharmadam: CM Pinarayi Vijayan is leading by 1536 votes to UDF’s VP Abdul Rasheed.
Beypore: UDF-backed PV Anvar trails by 6,071 votes to LDF Minister PA Muhammad Riyaz.
Peravoor: KPCC president Sunny Joseph leads by 4,033 votes against LDF’s KK Shailaja.
Vatakara (Kozhikode): RMP’s KK Rema, sitting MLA, leads with 37,219 votes against RJD’s MK Bhaskaran (25,315 votes). The day carries added significance as it marks the martyrdom anniversary of her husband, RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan, assassinated on 4 May, 2012—a killing widely linked to CPI(M) activists and remembered as a turning point in Kerala’s political landscape.
Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, high-profile contests are equally intense. Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK has stunned everyone in their debut election. At the time of filing this report, TVK is leading in Tamil Nadu followed by AIADMK and the incumbent DMK at a distant third.
Also Read: Limited campaign, sharp DMK focus: Decoding Vijay’s strategy ahead of Tamil Nadu election results
Edappadi: AIADMK General Secretary leads by 22,647 votes; TVK-backed Independent Premkumar trails.
Perambur: Actor-politician Vijay leads with 13,061 votes; DMK’s RD Shankar trails.
Tiruchirappalli East: Vijay again leads with 12,523 votes; DMK’s Inigo Irudayaraj trails.
Kolathur: TVK’s VS Babu leads with 20,504 votes; CM MK Stalin trails with 17,975 votes.
Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni: Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin trails by 646 votes to TVK’s D Selvam.
Karaikudi: TVK’s Dr Prabhu leads with 11,073 votes; Congress’s Mangudi S trails.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar, Sreelakshmi Soman, and Subash Chandra Bose)
