Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Vote Counting Set to Commence at 8 AM

The counting of votes for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is scheduled to commence at 8 AM on Monday, following polling that took place across all 234 constituencies on April 23. This election witnessed a remarkable voter turnout of 85.1%, indicating a robust engagement from the electorate.

To secure a majority in the Assembly, a party or coalition must obtain at least 118 seats. Current forecasts from various exit polls suggest that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), headed by Chief Minister MK Stalin, is likely to maintain its hold on power. However, an unexpected prediction from Axis My India indicates that the newly established Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, could potentially emerge as the single largest party.

The backdrop to this election is significant, particularly when considering the results of the 2021 elections, where the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance—comprising the Congress and Left parties—secured 159 seats, effectively ending the decade-long dominance of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). This shift led to Stalin’s rise as Chief Minister. In contrast, the National Democratic Alliance, which includes the AIADMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), managed to capture only 75 seats.

This election cycle also saw Tamil Nadu engaging in a special intensive revision of the electoral rolls, initiated by the Election Commission. As a result, over 74 lakh individuals were removed from the voter lists, leading to a final tally of approximately 5.6 crore voters as published in February. This comprehensive revision aims to ensure a more transparent and representative electoral process.

As the state prepares to unveil the results, the question remains whether Vijay’s electoral debut will indeed disrupt the status quo in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. With more than 400 candidates contesting, many of whom face serious criminal charges, and a quarter of them being millionaires, the elections have drawn attention not just for their political stakes but also for the profiles of those vying for power.

Source: scroll.in