2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

Legislative Assembly elections are expected to be held in Tamil Nadu in April–May 2026 to elect all 234 members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

← 2021
By April–May 2026
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All 234 elected seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
118 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
 
Leader M. K. Stalin Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Party DMK AIADMK
Alliance SPA NDA
Leader since 2018 2017
Leader's seat Kolathur Edappadi
Last election 37.70%, 133 seats 33.29%, 66 seats
Current seats 133 60
Seats needed 58
Current Alliance seats 158 67
Alliance seats needed 51

Map of the assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu

Incumbent Chief Minister

M. K. Stalin
DMK



Background

Elections to a State Legislative Assembly in India are usually held once in five years, and the members of the legislative assembly are directly elected to serve five year terms from single-member constituencies. The previous assembly elections were held in April 2021 to elect the 234 members of the 16th Tamil Nadu Assembly, and the tenure of the assembly ends on 10 May 2026. In the previous election, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) formed the state government after winning 159 of the 234 seats, and M. K. Stalin sworn in as the chief minister. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which won 66 seats, became the principal opposition party and its leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami was elected and served as the leader of the opposition.

In June 2022, three members–O. Panneerselvam, P. H. Manoj Pandian, and R. Vaithilingam were expelled from the AIADMK. In August 2022, P. Ayyappan of the AIADMK also joined the expelled faction. K. A. Sengottaiyan was expelled from AIADMK in October 2025, and subsequently resigned from his position as a member of the assembly in November 2025. Manoj Pandian resigned as a member of the assembly in November 2025 and joined the DMK, with Vaithilingam following suit in January 2026. In late 2025, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) split into two factions, with three members expressing support to Anbumani Ramadoss and two members supporting S. Ramadoss. After Anbumani was recognised as the official leader of the PMK, Ramadoss formed a splinter faction of the PMK. Two members–T. K. Amulkandasami (AIADMK) and K. Ponnusamy (DMK) died on 21 June 2025 and 23 October 2025 respectively.

Composition of the assembly
2021 election January 2026
Party Seats Party Seats
DMK 133 DMK 133
AIADMK 66 AIADMK 60
Independent 2
INC 18 INC 17
PMK 5 PMK 3
PMK(R) 2
BJP 4 BJP 4
VCK 4 VCK 4
CPI(M) 2 CPI(M) 2
CPI 2 CPI 2
Vacant 0 Vacant 5
Total 234 - 234

Schedule

Poll event Schedule
Notification
Last date for filing nomination
Scrutiny of nominations
Last date for withdrawal of nomination
Polling
Counting of votes

Parties and alliances

Secular Progressive Alliance

In March 2024, Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam joined the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). Other parties which formed part of the DMK-led alliance, that won all the 39 seats in the state in the 2024 general election, remained with the alliance.

Secular Progressive Alliance
Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam M. K. Stalin
Indian National Congress K. Selvaperunthagai
Communist Party of India (Marxist) P. Shanmugam
Communist Party of India M. Veerapandian
Indian Union Muslim League K. M. Kader Mohideen
Adhi Tamilar Peravai R. Athiyaman
Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi E. R. Eswaran
Makkal Needhi Maiam Kamal Haasan
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Vaiko
Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi T. Velmurugan
Makkal Viduthalai Katchi S. K. Murugavel Rajan
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Thol. Thirumavalavan
Total

AIADMK-led Alliance

On 25 September 2023, the AIADMK withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In the 2024 general election, the AIADMK-led Alliance and the BJP-led NDA contested separately and both did not win any seat in the state. On 11 April 2025, both the parties reunited to form an alliance, with Palaniswami as the chief ministerial candidate.

On 7 January 2026, the PMK, led by Anbumani, formally joined the AIADMK-led front. On 21 January 2026, T. T. V. Dhinakaran–led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam joined the alliance.

AIADMK-led Alliance
Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Bharatiya Janata Party Nainar Nagenthran
All India Forward Bloc P. V. Kathiravan
Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam T. T. V. Dhinakaran
Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi T. R. Paarivendhar
Pattali Makkal Katchi Anbumani Ramadoss
Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi N. R. Dhanapalan
Puratchi Bharatham Katchi M. Jagan Moorthy
Puthiya Needhi Katchi A. C. Shanmugam
South Indian Forward Bloc K. C. Thirumaran
Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) G. K. Vasan
Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam B. John Pandian
Uzhavar Uzhaippalar Katchi Vettavalam Manikandan
Total

Others

On 2 February 2024, Vijay announced the formation of his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), stating that it would contest the 2026 elections. In February 2025, All India N.R. Congress, the ruling party in the nearby union territory of Puducherry announced its intention to contest in the Tamil Nadu state elections. In December 2025, Naam Tamilar Katchi announced that it will contest solo across all the constituencies in the state, and release its first list of candidates.

Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats
Bahujan Samaj Party P. Anandan
All India N.R. Congress N. Rangasamy
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam Premalatha
Naam Tamilar Katchi Seeman 234
Pattali Makkal Katchi (S. Ramadoss Faction) S. Ramadoss
Puthiya Tamilagam K. Krishnasamy
Social Democratic Party of India Mohamed Mubarak
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Vijay

Candidates

District Constituency
SPA AIADMK+
Tiruvallur 1 Gummidipoondi
2 Ponneri (SC)
3 Tiruttani
4 Thiruvallur
5 Poonamallee (SC)
6 Avadi
Chennai 7 Maduravoyal
8 Ambattur
9 Madavaram
10 Thiruvottiyur
11 Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar
12 Perambur
13 Kolathur
14 Villivakkam
15 Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar (SC)
16 Egmore (SC)
17 Royapuram
18 Harbour
19 Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni
20 Thousand Lights
21 Anna Nagar
22 Virugambakkam
23 Saidapet
24 Thiyagarayanagar
25 Mylapore
26 Velachery
27 Shozhinganallur
28 Alandur
Kanchipuram 29 Sriperumbudur (SC)
Chengalpattu 30 Pallavaram
31 Tambaram
32 Chengalpattu
33 Thiruporur
34 Cheyyur (SC)
35 Madurantakam (SC)
Kanchipuram 36 Uthiramerur
37 Kancheepuram
Ranipet 38 Arakkonam (SC)
39 Sholinghur
Vellore 40 Katpadi
Ranipet 41 Ranipet
42 Arcot
Vellore 43 Vellore
44 Anaikattu
45 Kilvaithinankuppam (SC)
46 Gudiyattam (SC)
Tirupathur 47 Vaniyambadi
48 Ambur
49 Jolarpet
50 Tirupattur
Krishnagiri 51 Uthangarai (SC)
52 Bargur
53 Krishnagiri
54 Veppanahalli
55 Hosur
56 Thalli
Dharmapuri 57 Palacode
58 Pennagaram
59 Dharmapuri
60 Pappireddippatti
61 Harur (SC)
Tiruvannamalai 62 Chengam (SC)
63 Tiruvannamalai
64 Kilpennathur
65 Kalasapakkam
66 Polur
67 Arani
68 Cheyyar
69 Vandavasi (SC)
Viluppuram 70 Gingee
71 Mailam
72 Tindivanam
73 Vanur (SC)
74 Villupuram
75 Vikravandi
76 Tirukkoyilur
Kallakurichi 77 Ulundurpettai
78 Rishivandiyam
79 Sankarapuram
80 Kallakurichi (SC)
Salem 81 Gangavalli (SC)
82 Attur (SC)
83 Yercaud (ST)
84 Omalur
85 Mettur
86 Edappadi
87 Sankari
88 Salem (West)
89 Salem (North)
90 Salem (South)
91 Veerapandi
Namakkal 92 Rasipuram (SC)
93 Senthamangalam (ST)
94 Namakkal
95 Paramathi Velur
96 Tiruchengodu
97 Kumarapalayam
Erode 98 Erode (East)
99 Erode (West)
100 Modakkurichi
Tiruppur 101 Dharapuram (SC)
102 Kangayam
Erode 103 Perundurai
104 Bhavani
105 Anthiyur
106 Gobichettipalayam
107 Bhavanisagar (SC)
Nilgiris 108 Udhagamandalam
109 Gudalur (SC)
110 Coonoor
Coimbatore 111 Mettupalayam
Tiruppur 112 Avanashi (SC)
113 Tiruppur (North)
114 Tiruppur (South)
115 Palladam
Coimbatore 116 Sulur
117 Kavundampalayam
118 Coimbatore (North)
119 Thondamuthur
120 Coimbatore (South)
121 Singanallur
122 Kinathukadavu
123 Pollachi
124 Valparai (SC)
Tiruppur 125 Udumalaipettai
126 Madathukulam
Dindigul 127 Palani
128 Oddanchatram
129 Athoor
130 Nilakottai (SC)
131 Natham
132 Dindigul
133 Vedasandur
Karur 134 Aravakurichi
135 Karur
136 Krishnarayapuram (SC)
137 Kulithalai
Tiruchirappalli 138 Manapaarai
139 Srirangam
140 Tiruchirappalli (West)
141 Tiruchirappalli (East)
142 Thiruverumbur
143 Lalgudi
144 Manachanallur
145 Musiri
146 Thuraiyur (SC)
Perambalur 147 Perambalur (SC)
148 Kunnam
Ariyalur 149 Ariyalur
150 Jayankondam
Cuddalore 151 Tittakudi (SC)
152 Virudhachalam
153 Neyveli
154 Panruti
155 Cuddalore
156 Kurinjipadi
157 Bhuvanagiri
158 Chidambaram
159 Kattumannarkoil (SC)
Mayiladuthurai 160 Sirkazhi (SC)
161 Mayiladuturai
162 Poompuhar
Nagapattinam 163 Nagapattinam
164 Kilvelur (SC)
165 Vedaranyam
Tiruvarur 166 Thiruthuraipoondi (SC)
167 Mannargudi
168 Thiruvarur
169 Nannilam
Thanjavur 170 Thiruvidaimarudur (SC)
171 Kumbakonam
172 Papanasam
173 Thiruvaiyaru
174 Thanjavur
175 Orathanadu
176 Pattukkottai
177 Peravurani
Pudukkottai 178 Gandarvakottai (SC)
179 Viralimalai
180 Pudukkottai
181 Thirumayam
182 Alangudi
183 Aranthangi
Sivaganga 184 Karaikudi
185 Tiruppattur
186 Sivaganga
187 Manamadurai (SC)
Madurai 188 Melur
189 Madurai East
190 Sholavandan (SC)
191 Madurai North
192 Madurai South
193 Madurai Central
194 Madurai West
195 Thiruparankundram
196 Thirumangalam
197 Usilampatti
Theni 198 Andipatti
199 Periyakulam (SC)
200 Bodinayakanur
201 Cumbum
Virudhunagar 202 Rajapalayam
203 Srivilliputhur (SC)
204 Sattur
205 Sivakasi
206 Virudhunagar
207 Aruppukkottai
208 Tiruchuli
Ramanathapuram 209 Paramakudi (SC)
210 Tiruvadanai
211 Ramanathapuram
212 Mudhukulathur
Thoothukudi 213 Vilathikulam
214 Thoothukkudi
215 Tiruchendur
216 Srivaikuntam
217 Ottapidaram (SC)
218 Kovilpatti
Tenkasi 219 Sankarankovil (SC)
220 Vasudevanallur (SC)
221 Kadayanallur
222 Tenkasi
223 Alangulam
Tirunelveli 224 Tirunelveli
225 Ambasamudram
226 Palayamkottai
227 Nanguneri
228 Radhapuram
Kanyakumari 229 Kanniyakumari
230 Nagercoil
231 Colachal
232 Padmanabhapuram
233 Vilavancode
234 Killiyoor

Campaign

On 1 June 2025, DMK president and chief minister M. K. Stalin launched 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu' (Tamil Nadu as one team), an enrollment drive to add new party members and urged the party cadres to enroll at least 30% of voters in each polling booth to the party through a door-to-door outreach.

On 7 July 2025, AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami launched a statewide campaign with the slogan 'Let's Protect the People, Let's Save Tamil Nadu'.

On 13 September 2025, TVK president Vijay launched his party's election campaign in Tiruchirappalli, with subsequent rallies planned on weekends. However, following a crowd crush that resulted in the deaths of 41 people and injuries to 80-120 others, during a political rally hosted by he TVK in Karur, he suspended the campaign temporarily.

Following an order of the Madras High Court, the Government of Tamil Nadu announced new rules and guidelines for political rallies in the state in January 2026.

Surveys and polls

Opinion polls

Vote share projections
Polling agency Date published Sample size Margin of error Lead
SPA AIADMK+ Others
Seat projections
Polling agency Date published Sample size Margin of error Lead
SPA AIADMK+ Others

Exit polls

Vote share projections
Polling agency Date published Sample size Margin of error Lead
SPA AIADMK+ Others

Results

Results by alliance or party

Alliance/ Party Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Contested Won +/−
SPA Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Indian National Congress
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India
Indian Union Muslim League
Makkal Needhi Maiam
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
Total
AIADMK+ All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Bharatiya Janata Party
Pattali Makkal Katchi
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam
Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)
Total
Other parties
Independents
NOTA
Total 100% 234

Results by district

District Seats
SPA AIADMK+ Others
Thiruvallur 6
Chennai 22
Kancheepuram 3
Chengalpattu 6
Ranipet 4
Vellore 5
Thirupattur 4
Krishnagiri 6
Dharmapuri 5
Thiruvanamalai 8
Villupuram 7
Kallakurichi 4
Salem 11
Namakkal 6
Erode 8
Nilgiris 3
Thiruppur 8
Coimbatore 10
Dindigal 7
Karur 4
Tiruchirapalli 9
Perambalur 2
Ariyalur 2
Cuddalore 9
Mayiladuthurai 3
Nagapattinam 3
Thiruvarur 4
Thanjavur 8
Pudukottai 6
Sivaganga 4
Madurai 10
Theni 4
Virudhunagar 7
Ramanathapuram 4
Thoothukudi 6
Tenkasi 5
Tirunelveli 5
Kanyakumari 6
Total 234

Results by constituency

District Constituency Winner Runner Up Margin
No. Name Candidate Party Votes % Candidate Party Votes %
Tiruvallur 1 Gummidipoondi
2 Ponneri (SC)
3 Tiruttani
4 Thiruvallur
5 Poonamallee (SC)
6 Avadi
Chennai 7 Maduravoyal
8 Ambattur
9 Madavaram
10 Thiruvottiyur
11 Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar
12 Perambur
13 Kolathur
14 Villivakkam
15 Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar (SC)
16 Egmore (SC)
17 Royapuram
18 Harbour
19 Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni
20 Thousand Lights
21 Anna Nagar
22 Virugambakkam
23 Saidapet
24 Thiyagarayanagar
25 Mylapore
26 Velachery
27 Shozhinganallur
28 Alandur
Kanchipuram 29 Sriperumbudur (SC)
Chengalpattu 30 Pallavaram
31 Tambaram
32 Chengalpattu
33 Thiruporur
34 Cheyyur (SC)
35 Madurantakam (SC)
Kanchipuram 36 Uthiramerur
37 Kancheepuram
Ranipet 38 Arakkonam (SC)
39 Sholinghur
Vellore 40 Katpadi
Ranipet 41 Ranipet
42 Arcot
Vellore 43 Vellore
44 Anaikattu
45 Kilvaithinankuppam (SC)
46 Gudiyattam (SC)
Tirupathur 47 Vaniyambadi
48 Ambur
49 Jolarpet
50 Tirupattur
Krishnagiri 51 Uthangarai (SC)
52 Bargur
53 Krishnagiri
54 Veppanahalli
55 Hosur
56 Thalli
Dharmapuri 57 Palacode
58 Pennagaram
59 Dharmapuri
60 Pappireddippatti
61 Harur (SC)
Tiruvannamalai 62 Chengam (SC)
63 Tiruvannamalai
64 Kilpennathur
65 Kalasapakkam
66 Polur
67 Arani
68 Cheyyar
69 Vandavasi (SC)
Viluppuram 70 Gingee
71 Mailam
72 Tindivanam
73 Vanur (SC)
74 Villupuram
75 Vikravandi
76 Tirukkoyilur
Kallakurichi 77 Ulundurpettai
78 Rishivandiyam
79 Sankarapuram
80 Kallakurichi (SC)
Salem 81 Gangavalli (SC)
82 Attur (SC)
83 Yercaud (ST)
84 Omalur
85 Mettur
86 Edappadi
87 Sankari
88 Salem (West)
89 Salem (North)
90 Salem (South)
91 Veerapandi
Namakkal 92 Rasipuram (SC)
93 Senthamangalam (ST)
94 Namakkal
95 Paramathi Velur
96 Tiruchengodu
97 Kumarapalayam
Erode 98 Erode (East)
99 Erode (West)
100 Modakkurichi
Tiruppur 101 Dharapuram (SC)
102 Kangayam
Erode 103 Perundurai
104 Bhavani
105 Anthiyur
106 Gobichettipalayam
107 Bhavanisagar (SC)
Nilgiris 108 Udhagamandalam
109 Gudalur (SC)
110 Coonoor
Coimbatore 111 Mettupalayam
Tiruppur 112 Avanashi (SC)
113 Tiruppur (North)
114 Tiruppur (South)
115 Palladam
Coimbatore 116 Sulur
117 Kavundampalayam
118 Coimbatore (North)
119 Thondamuthur
120 Coimbatore (South)
121 Singanallur
122 Kinathukadavu
123 Pollachi
124 Valparai (SC)
Tiruppur 125 Udumalaipettai
126 Madathukulam
Dindigul 127 Palani
128 Oddanchatram
129 Athoor
130 Nilakottai (SC)
131 Natham
132 Dindigul
133 Vedasandur
Karur 134 Aravakurichi
135 Karur
136 Krishnarayapuram (SC)
137 Kulithalai
Tiruchirappalli 138 Manapaarai
139 Srirangam
140 Tiruchirappalli (West)
141 Tiruchirappalli (East)
142 Thiruverumbur
143 Lalgudi
144 Manachanallur
145 Musiri
146 Thuraiyur (SC)
Perambalur 147 Perambalur (SC)
148 Kunnam
Ariyalur 149 Ariyalur
150 Jayankondam
Cuddalore 151 Tittakudi (SC)
152 Virudhachalam
153 Neyveli
154 Panruti
155 Cuddalore
156 Kurinjipadi
157 Bhuvanagiri
158 Chidambaram
159 Kattumannarkoil (SC)
Mayiladuthurai 160 Sirkazhi (SC)
161 Mayiladuturai
162 Poompuhar
Nagapattinam 163 Nagapattinam
164 Kilvelur (SC)
165 Vedaranyam
Tiruvarur 166 Thiruthuraipoondi (SC)
167 Mannargudi
168 Thiruvarur
169 Nannilam
Thanjavur 170 Thiruvidaimarudur (SC)
171 Kumbakonam
172 Papanasam
173 Thiruvaiyaru
174 Thanjavur
175 Orathanadu
176 Pattukkottai
177 Peravurani
Pudukkottai 178 Gandarvakottai (SC)
179 Viralimalai
180 Pudukkottai
181 Thirumayam
182 Alangudi
183 Aranthangi
Sivaganga 184 Karaikudi
185 Tiruppattur
186 Sivaganga
187 Manamadurai (SC)
Madurai 188 Melur
189 Madurai East
190 Sholavandan (SC)
191 Madurai North
192 Madurai South
193 Madurai Central
194 Madurai West
195 Thiruparankundram
196 Thirumangalam
197 Usilampatti
Theni 198 Andipatti
199 Periyakulam (SC)
200 Bodinayakanur
201 Cumbum
Virudhunagar 202 Rajapalayam
203 Srivilliputhur (SC)
204 Sattur
205 Sivakasi
206 Virudhunagar
207 Aruppukkottai
208 Tiruchuli
Ramanathapuram 209 Paramakudi (SC)
210 Tiruvadanai
211 Ramanathapuram
212 Mudhukulathur
Thoothukudi 213 Vilathikulam
214 Thoothukkudi
215 Tiruchendur
216 Srivaikuntam
217 Ottapidaram (SC)
218 Kovilpatti
Tenkasi 219 Sankarankovil (SC)
220 Vasudevanallur (SC)
221 Kadayanallur
222 Tenkasi
223 Alangulam
Tirunelveli 224 Tirunelveli
225 Ambasamudram
226 Palayamkottai
227 Nanguneri
228 Radhapuram
Kanyakumari 229 Kanniyakumari
230 Nagercoil
231 Colachal
232 Padmanabhapuram
233 Vilavancode
234 Killiyoor

See also

  • Elections in Tamil Nadu – Overview of the procedure of elections in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
  • Politics of Tamil Nadu – Politics related to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu

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