Udhayanidhi Stalin

Udhayanidhi received his certificate of victory from the election officials in Queen Mary's College in Chennai. Speaking to reporters after receiving the campaign, he thanked the people of his constituency for voting for him.

The Supreme Court has urged public figures and constitutional post holders to exercise restraint in public discourse, stating that hate speech undermines fraternity, plurality, and multiculturalism. The court emphasized that such speech corrodes democratic values and is antithetical to the constitutional value of fraternity.

TVK president Vijay was leading in Perambur and Trichy East while chief minister M K Stalin and deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin were trailing in the initial rounds. More than 20 DMK ministers, including HR and CE minister P K Sekarbabu, were also trailing.

Tamil Nadu's political landscape is set for a decisive turn as vote counting commences. The election features high-stakes contests, including Chief Minister MK Stalin defending his seat and actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay making his electoral debut. AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palanisami is also fighting to regain relevance, with new entrants and alliance dynamics shaping the traditional voting patterns.

TVK has been leading in 109 constituencies and is on its way towards single largest majority (118 seats are required for forming majority).

As counting commenced, the DMK surged across Tamil Nadu, consolidating strongholds and making steady gains, particularly in urban areas and traditional bastions. The AIADMK-led opposition held select pockets, while actor Vijay's TVK emerged as a significant force, leading in early postal ballot trends.

Tamil Nadu's high voter turnout signals a crucial election. Chief Minister Stalin's DMK seeks continuity, while the AIADMK aims for a comeback. Actor Vijay's TVK emerges as a significant challenger, particularly among younger voters. Key constituencies like Kolathur and Perambur are witnessing intense multi-cornered contests, setting the stage for a decisive outcome.

The 2026 Indian Assembly Elections showcased a nation in transition, marked by regional pride, welfare economics, and celebrity influence. Tragedies, controversial rhetoric, and mass voter roll deletions defined campaigns across states, leading to high voter turnout and intense political theatre.

After the counting begins and trends trickle in, these seats offer early clues to momentum, alliance cohesion and voter sentiment that can ripple across regions. From prestige contests involving chief ministers to urban battlegrounds testing new entrants, the outcomes in these constituencies will help explain whether incumbency holds or fractures. They also reflect how local issues such as welfare delivery, identity, urban infrastructure and leadership credibility interact with wider political narratives.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Coimbatore for election campaigning. Nagendran criticized the ruling DMK and Congress alliance, alleging confusion and lack of support from national Congress leaders. He also accused the state government of misrepresenting central welfare schemes and opposing women's reservation.

While campaigning for DMK alliance candidates in Erode, Salem and Namakkal districts, Udhayanidhi said the party had helped defeat the Bill and resisted attempts to reduce the strength of Tamil Nadu in parliament.

The estimated poll percentage released by the Election Commission of India at 1.32pm for Chennai district showed that Virugambakkam recorded the highest turnout at 59.3%, followed closely by T Nagar (Thiyagarayanagar) at 58.01%.

Prominent political leaders, including Chief Minister M K Stalin, C Joseph Vijay, and Edappadi K Palaniswami, cast their votes across Tamil Nadu. Leaders expressed confidence in their respective party's victory, urging citizens to participate in the democratic process. Several leaders also voiced their opinions on the election's significance and potential outcomes.