Tamil Nadu Exit Poll 2026 LIVE Updates: Can Vijay's TVK play a spoiler for DMK and AIADMK?

On the Tamil Nadu assembly election, AICC In-charge Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar said, "We are quite confident that our alliance government will be formed and we will make history by repeating the government. We all came together around 21 political parties and campaigned aggressively, strategising ourselves depending on the changing situation. The delimitation drama that the BJP has done in the parliament has actually come to our benefit. That has actually ensured our victory and sealed it. The votes from the DMK got strengthened with the AIADMK's votes and other parties' votes getting transferred to us..."

• DMK: 133
• Congress: 18
• VCK: 4
• CPM: 2
• CPI: 2

Total: 159

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will declare the official results on May 4, which will ultimately determine whether the NDA can return to power or if the DMK retains its hold on the state. 

Tamil Nadu recorded 85.10% voting on April 23 and created history. In the 234-seat assembly, 118 seats are required for the majority.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 feature several high-profile "VIP" battles, including Kolathur, where Chief Minister MK Stalin (DMK) is seeking re-election against the AIADMK's P Santhana Krishnan. In Edappadi, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (AIADMK) faces a challenge from DMK's C Kasi in his home turf. Other important candidates include Vijay (TVk) from Tiruchirappalli (East) and Perambur, Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK) from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, V Senthil Balaji (DMK) from Coimbatore South, Nainar Nagendran (BJP) from Sattur, Tamilisai Soundararajan (BJP) from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan (BJP) from Coimbatore North, Premalatha Vijayakhanth (DMDK) from Virudhachalam, L Murugan (BJP) from Avanashi, Durai Murugan (DMK) from Katpadi, Dr Sowmiya Anbumani (PMK) from Dharmapuri, KA Sengottaiyan (TVK) from Gobichettipalayam, D Jayakumar (AIADMK) from Royapuram, Seeman (NTK) from Karaikudi, Vijay Prabhakaran (DMDK) from Virudhunagar, O Panneerselvam (DMK) from Bodinayakkanur and SP Velumani (AIADMK) from Thondamuthur among others.

Actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) made its electoral debut by contesting all 234 seats solo. Vijay is in the fray from two constituencies, Perambur and Tiruchirappalli (East).

Led by Seeman, the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) continues its tradition of contesting all seats independently on a platform of Tamil nationalism.

Ariyalur: 87.42%
Chengalpattu: 85.40%
Chennai: 83.40%
Coimbatore: 84.72%
Cuddalore: 85.41%
Dharmapuri: 90.11%
Dindigul: 89.21%
Erode: 90.07%
Kallakurichi: 88.39%
Kancheepuram: 87.35%
Kanyakumari: 75.55%
Karur: 92.65%
Krishnagiri: 85.42%
Madurai: 80.43% 
Mayiladuthurai: 82.09% 
Nagapattinam: 86.21%
Namakkal: 90.18% 
Perambalur: 83.83% 
Pudukkottai: % 
Ramanathapuram: 76.86% 
Ranipet:  89.89% 
Salem: 90.75% 
Sivagangai: 76.59% 
Tenkasi: 82.30% 
Thanjavur: 80.60% 
The Nilgiris: 78.93% 
Theni: 81.52% 
Thoothukudi: 80.50%
Tiruchirappalli: 85.42%
Tirunelveli: 77.90%
Tirupathur: 88.85%
Tiruppur: 88.51%
Thiruvallur: 83.65%
Tiruvannamalai: 89.60%
Tiruvarur: 83.65% 
Vellore: 88.77%
Viluppuram: 88.95%
Virudhunagar: 84.85%

In the 2016 Tamil Nadu elections, the AIADMK received a clear majority, winning 134 seats on its own. Though the DMK failed to win, its performance remained impressive and the party won 89 seats. Its alliance partners, the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) won eight seats and one seat, respectively. The 2016 elections were historic for Tamil Nadu, as it broke the partner of alternating governments.

In the 2021 Tamil Nadu polls, the DMK swept the polls, winning 133 seats on its own to end the AIADMK combine's rule. Its alliance partners, the Congress and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) won 18 and four seats, respectively. The AIADMK's tally, on the other hand, reduced from 134 to 66. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) won five seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged four constituencies. Later, Stalin was sworn in as the chief minister.

Women voters outnumbered their male counterparts in exercising their franchise on April 23, with over 2.52 crore women-constituting nearly 86.2 per cent of the total female electorate in Tamil Nadu-enthusiastically casting their votes. The male electorate that voted accounted for 2.35 crore, which was 83.96 per cent of the total male electorate in the state.

The state recorded an estimated overall turnout of 85.10 per cent, the highest since Independence. According to the Election Commission, the overall turnout in the Chennai district was 83.68 per cent. Perambur saw the highest voter turnout, with 2.03 lakh votes polled (89.74 per cent), followed by Kolathur with 1.82 lakh (86.12 per cent). The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu includes the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK), the Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), the South Indian Forward Bloc (SIFB), the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK), the Puratchi Bharatham Katchi (PBK), and the Puthiya Needhi Katchi (PNK).

The DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu includes the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Congress, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and others.

Polling for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Election 2026 was held in a single phase on April 23, with results set to be declared by the Election Commission on May 4. The election has witnessed a direct contest between the INDIA bloc, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the NDA, spearheaded in the state by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).