Tamil Nadu is heading into its 2026 state assembly election with three main political forces competing for control: the ruling DMK led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the principal opposition AIADMK, and the newer TVK party founded by actor-turned-politician Vijay.

The DMK has governed Tamil Nadu since its 2021 landslide win, when it unseated the AIADMK after a decade in power. Stalin's party will be defending that majority while pointing to its five-year record on welfare schemes, industrial investment, and Tamil identity politics.

The AIADMK, under Edappadi K. Palaniswami, remains the largest opposition bloc. The party held power for ten consecutive years before 2021 and has spent this term rebuilding after internal splits, including the formal separation from former leader O. Panneerselvam's faction.

Vijay's TVK Enters the Race

The most closely watched newcomer is Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, or TVK, founded by actor Vijay. His entry follows a well-worn path in Tamil politics — the state has a long history of film stars converting fan bases into electoral movements, most notably M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. Whether TVK can translate Vijay's mass popularity into first-time votes at scale is one of the key unknowns of this election.

Alliance formations will be central to the final outcome. Tamil Nadu's multi-party landscape means smaller regional parties and caste-based groups can shift vote shares meaningfully. Which parties align with DMK, AIADMK, or TVK — and on how many seats — will shape the arithmetic as much as top-line popularity.

What to Watch

Counting day will clarify vote-share splits across the state's 234 assembly constituencies. A strong DMK performance would consolidate Stalin's position and likely signal continuity on the state's ongoing disputes with the central government over tax devolution and the National Education Policy. An AIADMK recovery would mark the first serious post-split test of Palaniswami's leadership. Any significant seat tally for TVK — even without a majority — would establish Vijay as a durable political force rather than a one-cycle experiment.

Full results, live counts, and alliance updates will be published as they come in on counting day.