Tamil Nadu Election Results 2026 LIVE Updates: Counting to begin shortly, all eyes on DMK vs AIADMK battle

Tamil Nadu’s final electoral rolls for 2021 were published on January 20, 2021, with January 1, 2021 as the qualifying date. The state had 62,674,446 electors in the final rolls. Women voters outnumbered men by 990,254.

The results of the elections held in Tamil Nadu will be declared on May 4. Viewers can watch the results first on India TV. Apart from the television broadcast, live coverage of the results will begin at 6:00 AM on India TV's YouTube channel, as well as on India TV's Hindi and English websites.

Heavy security arrangements have been put in place at Loyola College, where votes for several crucial Assembly constituencies will be counted today.

Visuals were seen from outside the Chennai office of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam as counting of votes for all 234 Assembly constituencies begins at 8 AM today.

Visuals emerged from outside Anna Arivalayam, the headquarters of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, as counting of votes for all 234 Assembly constituencies gets underway from 8 AM today.

The 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election produced a clear change of government, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, DMK, returning to power after a decade. Polling for all 234 Assembly seats was held in a single phase on April 6, 2021, and counting was scheduled for May 2, 2021, according to the Election Commission of India. The DMK won 133 seats on its own, crossing the simple majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Assembly. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, AIADMK, listed as ADMK in ECI statistical tables, finished second with 66 seats. The DMK-led alliance ended with 159 seats, while the AIADMK-led alliance won 75 seats.

What sets this election apart is the prominence of key personalities. Chief Minister M K Stalin is seeking to strengthen his governance record, while opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami is aiming for a political comeback. At the same time, the Bharatiya Janata Party is working to expand its presence through high-profile leaders, making the contest as much about leadership narratives as policy issues.

MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin: The father-son duo and DMK bigwigs are contesting from the Kolathur and Chepauk Thiruvallikeni seats, respectively. Stalin has represented Kolathur since 2011, while Udhayanidhi is seeking to retain his seat after winning it in 2021.

Vijay: Heading the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay is contesting from Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur. The party, launched in February 2024, has fielded candidates in all 234 constituencies.

Edappadi K Palaniswami: The AIADMK general secretary and the NDA’s chief ministerial face, is contesting once again from Edappadi, aiming for a fourth consecutive term since 2011.

O Panneerselvam: In a significant political shift, Panneerselvam has joined the DMK after his long association with the AIADMK. He is contesting from Bodinayakkanur, a constituency he has won in 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Tamilisai Soundararajan: The BJP leader is contesting from Mylapore and brings prior experience as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

Nainar Nagendran of the BJP is contesting from Sattur, shifting from Tirunelveli, which he won in 2021.

Seeman (NTK) leads the Naam Tamilar Katchi and continues to campaign on Tamil identity, environmental issues, and anti-establishment themes, maintaining a strong grassroots base.

Vanathi Srinivasan (BJP) is a key face in the Coimbatore region, combining organisational strength with electoral experience while also playing a strategic role in the campaign.

Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK) remains an influential figure in northern Tamil Nadu, particularly among Vanniyar voters, and is a key ally within the NDA, shaping outcomes in closely contested constituencies.

Counting of votes for the Tamil Nadu assembly election will begin at 8 am. Stay tuned with India TV for all the LIVE updates on the Tamil Nadu assembly election results here.