Published May 04, 2026 | 7:23 AM ⚊ Updated May 04, 2026 | 9:22 AM
Vijay, MK Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The counting of votes cast for the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu began at 8 am on Monday, 4 May, with a total of 4,023 candidates in the fray across 234 constituencies in the state.
Authorities have completed preparations for the process at 234 counting halls across the state, and security arrangements are in place. The counting will begin with postal ballots, followed by votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
According to political analysts, the primary contest is between the ruling DMK-led secular progressive alliance and the NDA led by the AIADMK. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor-turned-politician Vijay is also expected to win some seats.
According to the Election Commission, 85.1 percent of the 5.73 crore registered voters across the state’s 234 constituencies cast their votes, the highest in the state’s history.
Several exit polls predicted that the ruling DMK would return to power in Tamil Nadu. Most projections put the DMK at about 110 to 150 seats in the 234-member Assembly, and the principal Opposition, the AIADMK, trails with about 60 to 120 seats.
People’s Pulse projects the DMK at 125–145 seats in the 234-member Assembly, while the AIADMK is at 65–80. The TVK is at 18–24 seats, with others at 2–6. Matrize puts the DMK at 122–132 seats and the AIADMK at 87–100, with TVK at 10–12 and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) at 0–6.
P-Marq puts the DMK at 125–145 and the AIADMK at 65–85, with TVK at 16–26. AGNI puts the party at 169 seats, while Minnambalam puts it at 155. Chanakya projects 145–160 seats for the DMK, with the AIADMK at 50–65 and TVK at 13–18.
A few exit polls suggest a tighter contest between the AIADMK and the DMK. SPICK Media puts the AIADMK at 124–127 seats against the DMK’s 89–101, while Vote Vibe puts the AIADMK at 114–124 and the DMK at 103–113. JVC Exit Poll gives the AIADMK 128–147 seats and the DMK 75–90.
As per the official figures released by the Election Commission of India so far, trends are available for 142 Assembly constituencies. Of these, the TVK is leading in 57 constituencies, followed by the AIADMK in 48 and the DMK in 27. The Congress is leading in three, and PMK is leading in two constituencies, while the CPI, BJP, AMMK, Puthiya Tamilagam, and DMDK are leading in one constituency each.
As per the official figures released by the Election Commission of India so far, trends are available for 114 Assembly constituencies.
Of these, the TVK is leading in 45 constituencies, followed by the AIADMK in 41 and the DMK in 19. The Congress and PMK are leading in 2 constituencies each, while the CPI, BJP, AMMK, Puthiya Tamilagam, and DMDK are leading in one constituency each.
According to ECI data, TVK chief Vijay is leading in both the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies.
According to data from the Election Commission of India, in the Kolathur constituency, TVK candidate VS. Babu is leading with 4,130 votes, while Chief Minister MK Stalin is trailing.
According to the EC, AINRC is leading in seven seats in Puducherry, and Congress in two, AIADMK and DMK in one seat each, and independents in three.
According to available data from the EC, TVK is leading in 90 seats, AIDMK in 65, and the ruling DMK is in third position with a lead in 53 seats.
AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami is leading with 5,520 votes in Edappadi constituency.
According to the EC, TVK is leading in 79 seats, AIDMK in 60 and the DMK in 54.
According to the EC, AINRC is leading in three seats in Puducherry, and Congress, AIADMK, DMK and an independent in one seat each.
As per the official figures released by the Election Commission of India so far, the AIADMK is leading in 9 constituencies, followed by TVK in 5, DMK in 3, CPI in 1, PMK in 1, and the INC in 1 constituency.
In the Thiruverumbur constituency, Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi is trailing.
In the Karur constituency, AIADMK candidate and former minister MR Vijayabaskar is leading.
In all 16 constituencies in Chennai, the TVK is leading.
According to EC data, TVK is leading in 66 seats, DMK in 50 seats and AIADMK in 50 seats.
In the Kolathur Assembly constituency, DMK chief and Chief Minister MK Stalin is trailing, with TVK candidate VS Babu leading by more than 4,000 votes.
According to the EC, TVK is leading in 60 seats, while DMK is leading in 51 and AIADMK in 39.
In the Perambur constituency, TVK chief Vijay is leading by a margin of 3,000 votes. He is also leading in Tiruchirappalli East.
In Kolathur, Chief Minister MK Stalin is in the lead.
According to the EC, the DMK is leading in 54 seats, and AIADMK and TVK in 33 seats each.
In the Chepauk–Triplicane constituency, the TVK candidate Selvam is currently leading, overtaking Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.
In the Madurai Central constituency, where Minister Palanivel Thyagarajan is contesting, the NDA candidate, actor Sundar C, is leading
NTK Candidate Senthamizhan Seeman trailing in the Karaikudi constituency
In Avinashi, Union Minister L Murugan is trailing.
In the Alandur constituency, Minister TM Anbarasan is trailing, with the TVK candidate leading there.
In the Sattur constituency, where BJP state president Nainar Nagendran is contesting, he is also trailing.
Similarly, in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai is trailing.
According to the EC, DMK is leading 56 seats, AIADMK in 25 seats and TVK in 17.
TVK’s General Secretary N Anandh is leading in his constituency, T Nagar.
According to the EC, DMK is leading 53 seats, AIADMK in 21 seats and TVK in 11.
Senthil Balaji of DMK is leading in Coimbatore South.
Details of more seats are emerging following the counting of postal ballots and the beginning of EVM votes.
The leads are:
DMK - 52
ADMK - 21
TVK - 8
NTK - 0
In the Tiruchirappalli West constituency, where Minister KN Nehru is contesting, a TVK candidate is leading with more than 500 additional postal votes compared to him.
After the counting of postal ballots, the leads are:
DMK - 12
ADMK - 2
TVK - 2
Trichirappalli Lalgudi - DMK
Mannachanallur - DMK
Thuraiyur - Congress
Musiri - AIADMK
Avadi - DMK
Trichirappalli West - DMK
In most constituencies in Chennai, the DMK is currently leading in the postal ballot count.
In the counting of postal ballots, the DMK is leading in 11 constituencies, while the AIADMK is leading in two and TVK in two.
In Mylapore, BJP's Tamilisai Soundararajan is leading with a margin of 28 votes. TVK is leading in Tiruchirappalli West.
The vote counting centre has been set up at Vivekanandha Women’s Engineering College in Elaiyampalayam, Tiruchengode taluk.
The counting centre for the Tirupparankundram and Thirumangalam constituencies in Tamil Nadu has been set up at the Government College in Kappalur. However, political party representatives have raised objections, alleging that the counting process began a few minutes earlier than scheduled.
They have also complained about the lack of basic facilities at the centre. Due to this, the counting of postal ballots is likely to be delayed slightly.
Meanwhile, vote counting has commenced at all 65 counting centres across Tamil Nadu and six in Puducherry.
The counting of votes for the 2026 Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections is set to begin soon. In Tamil Nadu, a total of 4,611 counting tables have been arranged across the state’s 234 constituencies.
The Union Territory of Puducherry is all set for the counting of votes to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly. Preparations are complete in all six counting centres spread across the four regions of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Election officials, some of the candidates, polling agents of candidates and political parties have started arriving at the counting centres from 7 am.
The counting of postal ballots will commence at 8 am. Half an hour later, the seals of the rooms where the EVMs are stored will be opened in the presence of representatives of all political parties, following which the counting of votes will begin.
