TN Election Updates: Vijay’s TVK crosses 100 mark in early trends

Tamil Nadu, long regarded as the citadel of Dravidian politics dominated by the DMK and the AIADMK, appears to be witnessing a dramatic political shift as early counting trends in the 2026 Assembly elections indicate a surge for actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

In a major upset, TVK has crossed the 100-seat mark in early trends, positioning itself as the frontrunner in the 234-member Assembly, where the majority mark stands at 118. The AIADMK alliance is trailing in second place with around 72 seats, while the ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, has slipped to a distant third.

The state witnessed a high-stakes triangular contest between the DMK, the AIADMK-BJP alliance, and the debutant TVK. While most exit polls had predicted a second consecutive victory for the DMK, some projections had hinted at a strong “Vijay effect,” with TVK potentially emerging as a kingmaker.According to trends from the Election Commission of India, Vijay is leading from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli (East) constituencies by comfortable margins exceeding 2,900 and 3,200 votes, respectively.

In a significant development, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin is trailing from his stronghold Kolathur seat by over 1,200 votes against TVK’s V.S. Babu, while AIADMK candidate R. Santhanakrishnan is in third position. Kolathur has been held by Stalin since 2011, and he had won the seat by a margin of over 70,000 votes in 2021.

Meanwhile, Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of the Chief Minister, is trailing from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency by 1,244 votes in early rounds of counting.

Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin is currently trailing from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni State Assembly seat.

Selvam D of the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is leading from the seat with a margin of more than 1244 votes, according to the Election Commission of… pic.twitter.com/mv2z7Xof2y

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

The emerging trends suggest a potential political realignment in Tamil Nadu, with TVK rapidly gaining ground and challenging the decades-long dominance of the Dravidian majors.
Supporters of the DMK expressed anger at the party’s office in Chennai after early trends showed the ruling party trailing behind Vijay’s TVK and the AIADMK-led alliance. Some party banners and wooden poles were uprooted and seen lying on the ground, while other supporters said they would reinstall them.