Actor-politician Vijay's TVK is nearing the majority mark of 118, as per the latest trends.

TVK: 110

AIADMK: 71

DMK: 52

Massive celebrations at actor-politician Vijay's house in Tamil Nadu as he and his party emerge as a king in the state.

DMK's O Panneerselvam is leading in Bodinayakanur by a margin of more than 2,604 votes.

TVK's Prakash S is trailing.

AIADMK leader, C Ponnaiyan, asserted that the AIADMK will not be joining hands with actor-politician Vijay's TVK. 

"Our alliance is strong and united, won't join hands with TVK. EPS is an efficient leader," he said.

TVK is leading in over 100 seats, followed by AIADMK. MK Stalin's DMK remains a distant third.

Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, is trailing from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat by 1,244 seats.

TVK's Selvam D is leading.

Supporters of Tamil Nadu's DMK expressed their anger by uprooting some party banners and poles at their office in Chennai after the assembly election numbers showed the ruling behind actor Vijay's TVK and the alliance led by the AIADMK.

Some wooden poles with posters of the party led by MK Stalin were seen fallen on the ground. Another set of DMK supporters at the venue told NDTV they will erect the banners and poles back where they stood.

Actor-turned politician and TVK chief Vijay is leading from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli (East) constituencies. 

In the Perambur seat, he is leading by a margin of more than 2,990 votes, and by a margin of more than 3,299 in Tiruchirappalli (East), according to the Election Commission of India trends.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is currently trailing from his stronghold, the Kolathur seat, after the initial rounds of counting of votes polled in the April 23 state assembly elections.

Stalin, who is seeking a second straight term, is trailing Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's VS Babu by more than 1,200 votes, as per the latest trends available on the Election Commission website. AIADMK candidate R Santhanakrishnan is currently in the third position.

Kolathur is a seat that Stalin, the DMK president, has held since 2011. In 2021, he had won the seat by a margin of 70,384 votes against AIADMK's Aadhi Rajaram, who is now contesting the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency and is currently leading over Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Babu is currently the joint general secretary of debutant TVK, which was launched by actor Vijay to take on the DMK and AIADMK.

TVK cadres celebrate their party's leads at a counting centre in Coimbatore.

TVK supporters celebrate as latest trends show party's win in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is trailing in his bastion Kolathur by 2,277 votes. TVK's VS Babu is leading, Election Commission data shows.

Vijay's TVK crosses 100 mark in latest trends, AIADMK second at 72, MK Stalin's DMK remains distant third.

Latest trends show Vijay's TVK leading in 89 seats, AIADMK in 73, and DMK in 56 seats.

Actor-politician Vijay led early trends in both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East on counting day, giving an early boost to his debut from two DMK-held seats.

Vijay is contesting the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election from Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli East in central Tamil Nadu, positioning both as flagship battles for his TVK party. Initial trends showed him ahead in both constituencies.

Perambur, Assembly constituency no. 12, lies in North Chennai under the Chennai North Lok Sabha seat. With around 2.22 lakh voters, it is one of the capital's most visible urban seats and a traditional arena of Dravidian politics.

In recent cycles, Perambur has leaned toward the DMK. In the 2021 Assembly election, DMK's R.D. Sekar won with 52.53% vote share, defeating PTMK's N.R. Dhanabalan, who polled about 25.10%. Earlier, the seat saw shifts, including an AIADMK victory in 1991, reflecting changing political currents in Chennai.

Actor-politician Vijay's TVK is confident of forming a government in the state "without any support", party leader Felix Gerald said.

Some DMK supporters broke down and cried as the party trailed in Tamil Nadu, as per the latest trends.

DMK has slipped to the third spot - with TVK leading with over 80 seats, followed by AIADMK at over 70 seats.

As AIADMK and TVK leads show neck and neck in Tamil Nadu, tracking the mood from AIADMK headquarters in Chennai.

TVK leader, Felix Gerald, said that the people of Tamil Nadu are "fed up" with AIADMK and DMK, as the actor-politician Vijay's party is leading in the state.

"We are confident that we will win. We are very happy. We expected this. People of Tamil Nadu wanted a change, they are fed up with AIADMK and DMK - who looted them. This is why people are choosing TVK. Our leader Vijay speaks directly to the people of Tamil Nadu...this is why it works out," he said.

Tamil Nadu has a legislature of 234 elected members - giving it a majority mark of 118.

The majority mark is the mark at which a party will have the absolute control of the legislative process and form a government. The formula for the majority mark is (Total Elected Seats / 2) + 1

A DMK celebration setup in Tamil Nadu's Chennai has been dismantled as the party slipped to the third spot. Vijay's TVK and AIADMK are leading.

TVK election campaign management general secretary showed a 'thumbs up' at the vote counting centre at Loyola College as the party overtook DMK in the latest trends.

Vijay's TVK and Edapaddi Palaniswami's AIADMK have overtaken MK Stalin's DMK, latest trends show.

TVK: 67

AIADMK: 66

DMK: 62

Vijay's TVK leads in 67 seats, overtakes MK Stalin's DMK in the high-stakes three-cornered battle. AIADMK is ahead in 54 seats, as per the latest trends.

A look at how the topguns - TVK Chief Vijay, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, AIADMK's Edapaddi Palaniswami, DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin, and DMK's O Panneerselvam are performing.

Early trends show DMK leading in 62 seats, TVK in 42, and AIADMK in 39.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is leading in the Kolathur seat, while actor-politician Vijay is leading in Perambur but trailing in Trichy.

The counting of votes through EVMs is underway at a counting centre in Chennai - Watch:

As DMK leads in Tamil Nadu, its MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy told NDTV that it is "too early to say anything".

Election Commission of India's official data shows TVK leading in one seat.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin trailing in Kolathur seat - his bastion. However, his party, DMK, is leading in Tamil Nadu with over 50 seats.

TVK's VS Babu is leading in Kolathur.

Edapaddi Palaniswami is trailing from his stronghold, Edapaddi seat. 

DMK's Kasi C is leading, show trends.

AIADMK headquarters in Chennai echoes with slogans as counting of Assembly election votes unfolds, with results expected throughout the day.

Counting of votes is underway in Tamil Nadu's Trichy where actor-politician Vijay is making his electoral debut.

He is currently trailing in the seat, early leads show.

Vote counting underway in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore.

Tension broke out at a vote counting center in Tirupattur's Vaniyambadi during ongoing counting operations. The incident involved former minister KC Veeramani, who was engaged into an argument with police officials.

In a striking blend of cinema nostalgia and high-stakes politics, legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja has set social media abuzz by sharing an old film song featuring actor-turned-politician Vijay, a move widely interpreted as a gesture of support ahead of the Tamil Nadu election results.

The audio track from the 1988 film Ithu Engal Neethi, directed by the actor-politician's father SA Chandrasekhar and composed by Ilaiyaraaja, featured a young Vijay in one of his earliest roles as a child artist.

What has captured public imagination, however, is the song's evocative line, "Chinna Thambi, Unnai Nambi ......" - translated as "The state waits for you, little brother."

Supporters see the song shared by Ilaiyaraaja, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the BJP-led government at the Centre in 2022, as symbolic, suggesting that Tamil Nadu is now looking up to Vijay as a potential leader.

Early trends show DMK leading in 18 seats, AIADMK in 8 seats, and Vijay's TVK in 2 seats in Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections.

Actor-politician Vijay is leading in the Perambur constituency, but trailing in Trichy East, early leads from Tamil Nadu show.

He is making his electoral debut by contesting in the two seats.

DMK workers celebrate, chant slogans as the party leads in five seats, as per early trends.

Vote counting underway at counting centres. Visuals from a counting centre in Chennai:

MK Stalin's DMK is leading in three seats, while Vijay's TVK and AIADMK in one seat each, early trends show.

Early trends show Vijay's TVK and MK Stalin's DMK are leading in one seat each.

Actor-politician and TVK chief Vijay's father, SA Chandrasekhar, and other family members offered prayers at the Tiruthani Murugar temple this morning.

Vijay is making his electoral debut by contesting in two seats - Tiruchi and Perambur.

The counting of votes for the high-stakes three-cornered battle between in Tamil Nadu DMK, AIADMK, and Vijay's TVK begins.

Tamil Nadu, it appears, loves and reveres its politicians and filmstars in equal measure. It is evidenced by its long and storied history of electing cine stars as its leaders. MGR, who broke away from the DMK, and his protege J Jayalalithaa, were superstars who went on to become chief ministers. CN Annadurai, the DMK founder, was a pathbreaking scriptwriter. M Karunanidhi emerged as another prominent poet and scriptwriter. They, too, went on to become chief ministers multiple times and were a big success politically.

Megastar Vijay is the latest to join the actor-turned-politician club in the southern state. Days ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results, multiple exit polls have predicted a victory for the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the state. Axis My India, a major polling agency, however, has said that actor Vijay's party might win up to 120 seats and become the 'next MGR'.  It's important to note that exit polls often get it wrong, too.

His grandfather ruled it five times. His father is ruling it now. And he will rule it in the future. The question is not if, but when he will become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Born November 27, 1977, Udhayanidhi Stalin is the son of MK Stalin, the boy from Chennai's Marina Beach who led the DMK to a hat-trick of wins starting with the 2019 federal election and is expected to extend that dominance into a second decade with victory in the 2026 state poll.

His rise was mapped. He follows the path his father trod from the 1980s. A 'start at the bottom and work your way up' philosophy, beginning with stewardship of the youth wing of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, though of course the climb was made easier for the younger Stalin.

That was in part because Udhayanidhi arrived with something his father didn't have - a fan base built across a decade in the movies, first as a producer then as a star. Politics and cinema are the two larger-than-life pillars of the Tamil identity and Udhayanidhi Stalin is fluent in both.

Tiruchi East

Tiruchi (Triruchipalli or Trichy) East is a key seat where TVK chief Vijay is making his electoral debut in a fierce three-way battle with DMK and AIADMK. 

Perambur

Vijay is also contesting from this seat against an AIADMK leader.

Kolathur

The Kolathur seat in Chennai remains critical as MK Stalin is seeking to retain his stronghold.

Edappadi

The Edappadi seat in Salem district is the fortress of Edapaddi K Palaniswami.

Coimbatore South

Coimbatore South is a battlefield for the BJP and the left-leaning alliances.

Visuals from the AIADMK Office in Chennai ahead of counting of votes.

Stalin was born March 1, 1953. Stalin died March 5, 1953. He was 74 years old.

It sounds confusing. It isn't. This is the story of the first Stalin.

The 'man of steel'

A boy was born in Madras (now Chennai) 73 years ago. His father wanted to call him Ayyadurai, to honour two of Tamil Nadu's most revered leaders - EV 'Periyar' Ramsamy and CN Annadurai. One was a fiery activist whose intellectual legacy still defines the Tamil social and cultural identity, and the other was his trusted lieutenant who created a political force built around that legacy - an anti-Brahmin social awareness campaign that birthed the Dravidian movement.

Instead, at a condolence meeting at Marina Beach, the father spontaneously named his son for Joseph Stalin, a 'man of steel', a dictator feared and revered who died just days before.

On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu welcomed Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin.

Today, he is Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister and the leader of the Dravidian Munnetra Kazhagam, the party Annadurai founded, Periyar guided, and his father - MK Karunanidhi - led as a five-time Chief Minister until his death in 2018.

And he is set to steer the DMK another election win.

Aadhav Arjuna, the general secretary of actor Vijay-led TVK, is contesting the Tamil Nadu elections from the Villivakkam seat in Chennai. Arjuna triggered a political row in the run-up to the polls with his remarks on superstar Rajinikanth. Arjuna had claimed that leaders from the DMK had threatened Rajinikanth and prevented him from entering politics. Rajinikanth rejected the statement, calling it "factually incorrect."

He later issued a public apology, saying he regretted any hurt he had caused the actor. Arjuna clarified that he did not mean direct threats, but was referring to an "external pressure".

Who is Aadhav Arjuna?

Arjuna was born in 1982 in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, into a farmer's family. He is a political strategist, sports administrator, and philanthropist.

He was raised by his uncle and grandmother after he lost his mother at a young age.

Arjuna completed his schooling at YWCA in Trichy and later studied at Ramakrishna Mission School. During his 10th grade, he discovered an interest in basketball.

After finishing school, Arjuna moved to Chennai for higher studies. He joined Madras Christian College, where he studied political science. He stayed at the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) hostel, where athletes are trained. He spent long hours practising at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. He played as a national-level basketball player until 2016.

Arjuna has earlier worked in the corporate sector and was the Founder and Managing Director of Arise Capital. In 2017, he decided to move into sports administration. Arjuna has held various positions, such as president of the Basketball Federation of India and the Tamil Nadu Basketball Association. He also serves as the general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association.

He was earlier associated with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and even served as its deputy general secretary for a brief period before stepping down.

Irrespective of the exit polls, the most popular question in Tamil Nadu this election season is: will Vijay rewrite the state's political history? In fact, at the end of polling day, virtually every strategist from every political party conceded that, for a new entrant, Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) will garner a historic vote share. Every exit poll has predicted a double-digit vote share, and all but one - the Praja poll - have estimated seat tallies for Vijay. The range of seat predictions varies too widely to reconcile, the lowest being in single digits, while another (the Axis-My India poll) estimating a high end of 120 seats, giving it a simple majority (with a projected range of 98-120).

Based on both ground reports and exit polls, it is clear that Vijay's political debut will be groundbreaking. Whether it will be groundbreaking enough to capture power or force a hung assembly is now the question. 

Ballot boxes have been set up at polling booths in Tamil Nadu as the state gears up for the result of an intense three-cornered battle.

Visuals from outside Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai, ahead of the counting of votes.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the Karunanidhi memorial last night - ahead of the counting of votes. Ministers Sekar Babu and A Raja accompanied him.

Visuals from outside the TVK office in Chennai ahead of counting of votes.

BJP's Tamilisai Soundararajan, who is contesting from Mylapore, said that she believes she would receive a response to her "many years of struggle in politics".

"Why am I contesting this, even after serving as Governor? Some say it's a thirst for position. I have no concern for those who mock; my concern is only for those who suffer. Yes, I contested not out of a thirst for position, but out of a thirst to provide help to those who suffer! Not just to be the voice of the Tamil people in the assembly, but to resonate as the voice of every Tamil woman. Not just as the voice of the Tamil land, but to echo as the voice of every Tamil woman - that is my wish. With the faith that God will grant victory and shower His grace, I set forth," she said. 

The counting for the high-stakes three-cornered battle between the DMK, AIADMK and Vijay's TVK will begin at 8 AM.

Days after exit polls predicted that Vijay's TVK might perform better than expected in its debut polls in Tamil Nadu, the ruling DMK's ally, MDMK chief Vaiko, has called the actor-politician's party a "force to reckon with".

"The TVK is a force to reckon with, and may produce surprising results," he said, citing Vijay's popularity among the masses.

While most exit polls have predicted that Vijay's party would win a substantial number of seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls, possibly becoming a kingmaker, the Axis My India prediction has said that the new party will likely upset the veteran DMK by winning as many as 98-120 seats out of 234. However, all the other poll predictions concurred on the possibility of MK Stalin returning to power.

Decoding the Tamil Nadu politics ahead of counting. 

Security has been heightened outside polling booths in Tamil Nadu.

Today dawns with Tamil Nadu holding its breath, the focus on the counting of votes for what is widely regarded as one of the most unpredictable Assembly elections in recent years.

In the driving seat is Chief Minister MK Stalin and his Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Backing his bid for a second term (and fourth major election win) is the Secular Progressive Alliance - a tried and tested bloc that includes the Congress, two Left parties, and the Indian Union Muslim League, as well as a handful of Tamil outfits.

To this, he has added late actor Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam - to help consolidate northern and central districts - and O Panneerselvam from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, to lock in Thevar community votes.

Vijay

Vijay is making his electoral debut with his party, the TVK. He is contesting from two seats - Perambur and Tiruchirapalli East.

MK Stalin

Chief Minister MK Stalin is seeking a re-election from Kolathur - a seat he has held since 2011.

EPS

Edapaddi K Palaniswami is contesting from Edapaddi - a traditional bastion of the AIADMK.

Udhayanidhi Stalin

Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of MK Stalin, is contesting from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.

Tamilisai Soundararajan

Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan is contesting from Mylapore.

The first past the post model is often the nightmare of a psephologist in India. It leads to vagaries of the kind the normal mind can least imagine. Chitrasen Sinku won the Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat in Jharkhand in 1996, polling just 21 per cent votes. The example of this Lok Sabha seat when scaled up to an entire state exemplifies the predicament over Vijay's vote share conversion in Tamil Nadu.

A Wholesome Psephological Framework For The First Past The Post Model

Can a vote share of even just 25 per cent, not the peak of 35 per cent as estimated by some polls for the TVK convert to a big win?

Tamil Nadu is in focus today as the citadel of Dravidian politics for over 50 years, with a binary politics dominated by the DMK and AIADMK, could be in for winds of change. The state is witnessing an intense three-cornered contest involving the ruling DMK-led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, its main rival AIADMK, which is in alliance with the BJP, and the new entrant - actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

While most exit polls have predicted DMK's second straight win, Axis My India suggested a huge wave of the "Vijay effect" in the state this time, speculating TVK could end up as a kingmaker by winning about 100 of the state's 234 seats - where the majority mark is 118.