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2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election
Election to the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2026 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election is expected to be held in April–May 2026 to elect all 234 members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.[1] M. K. Stalin is the incumbent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
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Background
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Perspective
In the previous assembly elections, The DMK won 133 constituencies on its own, receiving an absolute majority in the sixteenth Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, whereas its SPA alliance saw victory in a total of 159 constituencies. Meanwhile, the NDA alliance captured 75 constituencies, out of which the AIADMK had won 66. Other parties, alliances, and independent candidates did not secure any seats. After spending a decade as the opposition party, the DMK won Tamil Nadu from the AIADMK, which reigned the state for two consecutive terms (2011-2021). After the victory, M. K. Stalin became the next chief minister of the state. The AIADMK led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami assumed the position of the opposition party at the sixteenth Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.[2][3][4][5][6]
The Stalin administration was noted for various developmental projects and the implementation of various schemes like Free travel facilities in city and town buses for women and Rs 1000 monthly financial assistance scheme for women.[7][8] Though the DMK promised ₹1000 for all women in their 2021 election manifesto, The government delayed the implementation by 28 months and imposed additional eligibility criteria.[9][10] Critics also highlight poor implementation and limited coverage under the free bus scheme.[11] He was also noted for implementing reformist decisions like appointing trained aspirants of all castes as priests in temples which are under the control of HR & CE Department.[12]
Since the DMK came to power in 2021, Tamil Nadu has seen significant hikes in TNEB electricity tariffs (up to 45%),[13] property taxes (up to 150%),[14] water charges (5–10%), Aavin milk prices (25%),[15] and professional taxes (35%). These increases have raised the cost of living and faced strong opposition from the public, businesses, and political parties. Many citizens, especially low- and middle-income groups, expressed concerns over the financial burden caused by these successive hikes. Protests and demands for rollbacks have been common amid rising inflation and economic challenges.[16][17]
The rising number of NEET aspirant suicides in Tamil Nadu has raised serious concerns, with over 20 students reportedly dying by suicide by 2025, beginning with the tragic death of Anitha in 2017. The opposition has strongly criticized the DMK government, accusing it of misleading students by promising to abolish NEET in Tamil Nadu if elected in 2021. They highlighted that between September 2021 and March 2025, 19 students took their own lives due to anxiety and pressure related to the exam.[18][19] Both the DMK and the earlier AIADMK governments have consistently opposed NEET, arguing that it disadvantages students from poor and rural backgrounds and instead pushed for admissions based on Class 12 marks. The AIADMK passed two anti-NEET bills in 2017, but neither received Presidential assent. Similarly, the DMK passed an anti-NEET bill in 2021, re-adopted it in 2022 after the Governor returned it, but it was ultimately rejected by the President in 2025.[20] When Opposition Leader Palaniswami asked Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin to reveal the “secret” he had mentioned during the previous election campaign about getting NEET banned, Udhayanidhi responded, “The legal struggle until NEET is cancelled is the secret.”[21][22]
Concerns were raised over the deterioration of law and order in the state due to the rising crime rate, including the murders of political leaders such as Bahujan Samaj Party State President K. Armstrong, Mining corruption whistleblower Jagaber Ali, and district-level functionaries of various parties.[23] Drug Smuggling by DMK functionary Jaffer Sadiq and increasing drug use among youth further highlighted challenges in the state's law enforcement and social governance.[24][25] Disturbing incidents such as the Vengaivayal water contamination, and the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy which claimed 66 lives and caste discrimination against dalits have drawn public concern.[26][27][28][29] According to data presented in the Lok Sabha, the number of custodial deaths in the state rose from 63 in 2020–21 to 109 in 2021–22, marking a significant 73% increase.[30][31] In October 2024, five people died and nearly 100 were admitted to government hospitals around Marina Beach due to dizziness, dehydration and extreme exhaustion during the IAF Air Show, which was witnessed by 15 lakh people.[32] The opposition criticized the state government for not making adequate arrangements to regulate traffic, manage the crowd, and provide adequate public transport and drinking water facilities.[33] In December 2024, An alleged sexual assault of a female student on the premises of Anna University in Chennai has sparked widespread outrage across political and student communities in Tamil Nadu. The accused has been sentenced to life imprisonment.[34][35]
The controversies surrounding sitting DMK ministers included the arrest and resignation of V. Senthil Balaji in 2023-25, whom the Supreme Court directed to choose between keeping his cabinet post and protecting his bail during the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into the 2015 Cash-for-Jobs scam, a money laundering case.. Meanwhile, Ponmudy resigned amid sustained criticism from the Madras High Court, within the DMK, and from outside, over his derogatory remarks about hindu religious symbols and women.[36]
AIADMK alliance
On 25 September 2023, the party's secretaries advisory meeting, led by general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, was held in the Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R. Maaligai. At the meeting, it was decided to withdraw from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, and it was officially announced by deputy general secretary K. P. Munusamy after the meeting.[37][38][39]
In the 2024 general election, the AIADMK-led Alliance consisting of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), Puthiya Tamilagam (PT), and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) contested in the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territories of Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the 18th Lok Sabha polls. In the alliance, the AIADMK contested 36 constituencies, and the DMDK contested five constituencies. The party-led alliance lost in all the constituencies it contested, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance swept the election in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.[40] On 11 April 2025, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah announced their alliance for 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election on a Joint Press Conference at Chennai.[41][42] Ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched the Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom (Let us protect the people and reclaim Tamil Nadu) statewide campaign tour covering all 234 constituencies in phases, starting from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore on July 7, 2025.[43][44]
TVK formation
On 2 February 2024, Vijay announced the launch of his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and stated its intent to contest the 2026 elections.[45][46] The formation of TVK marked the culmination of a long-standing political buildup from his fan base. Over the years, Vijay's fan clubs—reportedly numbering around 85,000 across Tamil Nadu, each with at least 25 members—had been organized under Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, a registered welfare association. These fan clubs have now transformed into a political cadre forming the backbone of TVK's grassroots structure.[47]
The party’s leadership was formalized during a meeting with 110 executive members, where Vijay announced key office-bearers, including the General Secretary, Treasurer, Head Office Secretary, and Deputy Secretary for Policy Promotion. On the same day, the party submitted its application for registration with the Election Commission of India.
Membership was Voter ID–linked, and a dedicated app for digital enrollment was launched on International Women's Day. Within hours of launch, the number of party enrollees reached several lakhs, primarily consisting of youth, women, and household heads. TVK also appointed a woman party member to head the membership campaign, emphasizing the organization’s focus on women’s participation and safety.
N. Anand is currently serving as the general secretary of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.[48] In July 2024, Vijay publicly called for a ban on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), stating that it was biased against rural students. He also demanded that the subjects of education and sanitation be moved from the Concurrent List back to the State List.[49][50]
Vijay and TVK issued strong statements against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the handling of caste and gender-based violence cases in Puducherry, Kallakurichi, and Anna University. Vijay personally visited victims of the hooch tragedy and hoisted women’s safety as a key issue. The party also organized academic award functions promoting education as a tool for upliftment, and Vijay emphasized this by declaring education as “invaluable wealth.”
In September 2024, TVK announced its ideological alignment with left-of-centre values, embracing Ambedkarism, Periyarism, and Marxism.[51] The party rejected any association with right-wing ideologies and declared its political opposition to the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu and the BJP at the national level. Ahead of the party’s first political conference, Vijay paid tribute to leaders like Periyar, Ambedkar, Kamaraj, and Muthuramalinga Thevar, signaling ideological clarity.[51][52]
On 27 October 2024, TVK held its first political conference in Vikravandi, attended by over 800,000 people.[53] The event showcased large cutouts of Periyar, Ambedkar, Velu Nachiyar, Kamaraj, and others, affirming them as TVK’s ideological pillars.[54][55] Vijay officially unveiled the party’s ideology as “Secular Social Justice”, supporting social justice, secularism, egalitarianism, two-language policy, and democracy.[56][57]
During the conference, Vijay indirectly targeted BJP and DMK, calling BJP an "ideological opponent" and DMK a "political adversary" due to alleged corruption and dynastic politics.[58] On 3 November 2024, the party passed 26 resolutions criticizing both central and state governments.[59][60]
In the months that followed, Vijay authored multiple open letters in the style of C. N. Annadurai, which received widespread attention. TVK condemned police inaction in various regions and called for restoring state rights, including opposition to the Governor's powers. Vijay also visited Parandur during airport land acquisition protests, where he urged the government to consider an alternate site.
Since the conference, TVK has attracted substantial youth support, prompting traditional parties like DMK and AIADMK to increase efforts to retain their voter base ahead of the 2026 elections.[61]
On 13 February 2025, TVK announced a large-scale organizational expansion aimed at strengthening its booth-level presence across Tamil Nadu. The party declared its plan to appoint over 70,000 booth agents and restructure its internal hierarchy in preparation for the 2026 state elections. This marked a shift in focus from movement-building and ideological outreach to electoral consolidation and field-level readiness.[62]
On 26 April 2025, Vijay addressed a booth agents and party functionaries meeting in Coimbatore as part of TVK’s 2026 election preparations. He instructed cadre to enrol new members and strengthen the party at the grassroots, with the goal of deploying over 70,000 booth-level agents across Tamil Nadu. Reaffirming TVK’s commitment to clean politics, Vijay vowed to establish a corruption-free, transparent, and accountable government. He urged party workers to stay honest, reject bribes, and win public trust through genuine service.[63][64]
On 9 June 2025, TVK held a major induction event at its Panaiyur headquarters in Chennai, during which several individuals—including former MLAs, retired officials, and members of other political parties—formally joined the party in the presence of TVK founder Vijay. As part of this expansion, K.G. Arunraj, a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was appointed as the General Secretary for Propaganda and Policy Development. Arunraj’s entry was seen as a significant step in professionalizing the party’s organizational and ideological outreach ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections.[65][66]
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Schedule
Parties and Alliances
Secular Progressive Alliance
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National Democratic Alliance
Others
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Candidates
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Surveys and polls
Opinion polls
Exit polls
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Results
Results by alliance or party
Results by region
Results by district
Results by constituency
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See also
References
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