In an intense three-cornered battle in the State, trends are available for 231 seats. The new entrant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor C. Joseph Vijay is leading at 106 seats. Ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) lead by Chief Minister MK Stalin is leading on 36 seats, while its rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is leading at 68 seats and PMK is leading on 07 seats, Indian National Congress (INC) is ahead on 04 seats, BJP has taken a lead on 01 seat.
Among the key candidates, the sitting Chief Minister MK Stalin, contesting from Kolathur constituency in Chennai, is trailing with a margin of 1234, now behind his AIADMK opponent Santhana Krishnan, as per early trends. TVK candidate V S BABU is now leading with 8393 votes. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is also trailing from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency in Chennai. TVK president C. Joseph Vijay increases his lead in Round 2 in Tiruchi East. He is leading by a margin of 3,299 votes over his DMK rival Inigo Irudhayaraj. In another Perambur constituency, C. Joseph TVK Chief is leading by a margin of 2990 votes over his DMK opponent RD Shekar. The former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who recently joined DMK, is leading from Bodinayakanur constituency. Former AIADMK leader K.A Sengottaiyan,who switched to TVK is leading from Gobichettipalayam Consitituency. PMK leader and wife of former Union Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss is leading from Dharmapuri Consitituency. BJP leaders and Union Minister of State L. Murugan is trailing behind the TVK candidate, S. Kamali, in the Avanashi constituency after the first round of counting.
Elections to the 234-seat Assembly were held in a single phase on April 23. The total voter turnout stood at 85.1 per cent with 4.8 crore votes polled.
In 2021, the DMK alliance swept the previous Assembly elections, winning 159 seats and comfortably crossing the majority mark of 118, ending AIADMK’s decade-long rule. The DMK alone contested 188 seats and won 133, paving the way for M K Stalin to become Chief Minister. The AIADMK-led alliance won 75 seats, with the AIADMK itself winning 66 of 191 seats, while allies BJP and PMK, secured 4 and 5 seats, respectively.
