Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's VS Babu on Monday defeated Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at his stronghold, the Kolathur assembly seat, in what is one of the biggest electoral upsets in the 2026 assembly elections.

Babu, whose TVK is fighting the maiden elections, defeated the DMK stalwart by about 8,000 votes after 17 rounds of counting of votes polled in the April 23 state elections, according to the data available on the Election Commission website.

While Babu polled about 82,000 votes, Stalin, who held the seat since 2011, got around 72,000. AIADMK's R Santhanakrishnan stood in the third position with 14,000 votes.

In 2021, Stalin 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 trailing Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Former Andhra Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated actor-politician Vijay for his party's big lead in Tamil Nadu.

"A special and heartfelt shoutout to my dear brother, Vijay! Emerging as the single largest party in your very first election is impressive. Wishing you immense strength and success as you embark on this new chapter of service. God be with you," he wrote in a post on X.

A special and heartfelt shoutout to my dear brother, Vijay! Emerging as the single largest party in your very first election is impressive. Wishing you immense strength and success as you embark on this new chapter of service. God be with you.
My sympathies are with Didi.…

— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) May 4, 2026

TVK is likely to form government on May 7 if they reach a majority mark of 118, sources told NDTV. As per the latest trend, TVK has won one seat and is leading in 105 more.

Vijay's TVK supporters cheer as party leads in Tamil Nadu.

One of the supporters told NDTV, "Vijay has promised to go to every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu."

#ResultsWithNDTV | "Vijay has promised to go to every nook & corner of Tamil Nadu" : TVK supporters cheer on Vijay as party edges towards majority in Tamil Nadu as per trends @Vasudha156 pic.twitter.com/qosWgfp7ZL

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

When Vijay decided to make his political foray in 2024, the DMK and AIADMK sniggered. He was dismissed as yet another actor with stars in his eyes. Not surprising because in the 2021 elections, cinema legend Kamal Haasan had flopped in a political role. As had thespian Sivaji Ganesan in the 1980s. Vijaykanth had failed to set the Cauvery on fire. Sarathkumar and Khushbu were just part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) line-up. Rajinikanth decided it was best to stay away. 

Two years later, on May 4, the day 'Agni Natchatram' began - the hottest period in south India, when the sun blazes like a ring of fire - Vijay eclipsed the party of the rising sun. The two leaves wilted. 'Thalapathy' Vijay defeated 'Thalapathy' MK Stalin. The man, spoken of as the 'X' factor in the 2026 election, made Stalin an ex-chief minister. 

TVK's R Vijaysaravanan wins the Thanjavur seat in Tamil Nadu with a total of 87,705 votes. DMK's Shan Ramanathan lost by a margin of 16,955 votes.

Congress is speaking to actor-politician Vijay's TVK after the party's stunning electoral debut in Tamil Nadu assembly election.

DMK's M Raju wins the Coonoor seat in Tamil Nadu with a total of 50,470 votes. AIADMK's A Ramu lost by a margin of 8,099 votes.

MK Stalin's DMK has taken a second position by winning one seat and leading in 58 more, while AIADMK has taken a backseat by leading in 52 seats.

Vijay's TVK, however, still emerges big as it is leading in over 100 seats.

Congress' P Viswanathan has won the Melur seat with a total of 60,080 votes. TVK's A Maduraiveeran lost by 2,724 votes.

DMK wins the Gudalur seat in Tamil Nadu with a total of 65,590 votes. AIADMK's Ponjayseelan lost by a margin of 22,833 votes.

It is school result day. You dress up, caught between anticipation and thrill, as your parents get ready to take you to collect your report card. They are hoping for the best, and if yours is a religious household, a prayer or two has almost certainly been said.

That is precisely how Monday began for actor Vijay and his father, SA Chandrasekhar. 

Before the counting got under way, the father and son duo visited the Subramanyaswamy Temple in Tiruttani to offer prayers. Hours later, the results came in, and by most scales, Vijay passed his political debut with top marks.

Speaking to news agency ANI after the trends emerged, Chandrasekhar was every bit the proud father. "First of all, as a father, I'm very proud and happy. Totally, me and my wife, because my wishes to my son because I've been seeing his confidence level over the last two years."

The actor's father recalled TVK chief telling him "I will be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu."

When a pollster said on April 29 that the TVK could win between 98 and 120 seats in Tamil Nadu, many ridiculed it for predicting that a party that was making its debut and was led by an actor with no political experience would be able to achieve such a feat. 

The agency's numbers were based on exit polls it had conducted after voting, but another prediction about the TVK's success, made over a year before the elections were held, is now going viral. 

In an interview with Thanthi TV in March last year, just a year after the TVK's formation, political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor was asked about the prospects of the party and its founder Vijay, a Tamil cinema superstar. 

"Vijay's commitment is to go alone. I don't see that changing. If he goes alone, he stands a very good chance to win Tamil Nadu," Kishor - whose party, Jan Suraaj, failed to open its account in the Bihar Assembly elections last year - had said. 

Actor-politician Vijay's TVK nears majority mark, with currently leading on 111 seats.

Axis My India Founder Pradeep Gupta shakes a leg after his Vijay prediction comes true in Tamil Nadu.

#ResultsWithNDTV | Axis My India Founder Pradeep Gupta (@pradeepguptaami) shakes a leg after his Vijay prediction comes true in Tamil Nadu! pic.twitter.com/eekAy1NT3L

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

Vijay looks set to become another actor from Tamil Nadu to make a blockbuster debut in politics. His party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was on course for a surprise electoral show, leading in more than 100 seats after several rounds of counting of votes polled in the April 23 state assembly elections.

Vijay will join the likes of MGR and Jayalalithaa as the stars who made it big in the political firmament in Tamil Nadu. He also didn't repeat the mistakes of actors like Kamal Haasan and Vijayakanth, who had entered Tamil Nadu politics but couldn't leave their marks.

TVK Chief Vijay's father, while speaking to NDTV, said that he is "motivated to do good for Tamil Nadu".

Watch full interview here:

"He is motivated to do good for the Tamil Nadu" : TVK chief Vijay's father on party's lead in Tamil Nadu as per trends pic.twitter.com/NjPeJDeiPj

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

Celebrations galore at Axis My India's office as their exit poll prediction on Vijay's TVK in Tamil comes true as per the latest trends.

Axis My India's Pradeep Gupta was the only pollster to have predicted TVK's win in the state. All the other exit polls had predicted DMK's second straight win.

#ResultsWithNDTV | Celebrations galore at Axis My India's office amid their exit poll predictions on a TVK lead #ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/4woIBa2O0a

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

TVK: 110

AIADMK: 56

DMK: 49

PMK: 05

Congress: 04

Actor Trisha Krishnan visited TVK chief Vijay's residence as trends project TVK lead in Tamil Nadu.

Actor Trisha arrives outside TVK chief Vijay's residence as trends project TVK lead in Tamil Nadu #ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/yMDmIgGrkv

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

NDTV Executive Editor TM Veeraraghav shares his key takeaways from the result projections in Tamil Nadu.

#ResultsWithNDTV | NDTV Executive Editor TM Veeraraghav (@tmvraghav) shares his key takeaways from the result projections in Tamil Naduhttps://t.co/LpfcFgnMrg #TamilNaduElections pic.twitter.com/CHsGXK5Bnq

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

Actor-politician Vijay's car driver's son, Sabarinathan R, is leading in the Virugampakkam seat by over 5,000 votes.

DMK's Prabhakara Raja AMV is trailing.

A blockbuster like no other. An explosive script that simply could not have been predicted (except by the Axis My India exit pollsters!). A re-write of political history. That is what unfolded in Tamil Nadu Monday afternoon as votes were counted for the 2026 Assembly election, and actor-politician Vijay stood on the brink of a historic debut win.

At noon - after an early lead for the DMK - the TVK was leading in 108 of the state's 234 seats, only 10 short of the majority mark and the right to form its own government.

Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam came into this election as the unfancied challenger, up against Dravidian behemoths DMK and AIADMK in a state that had not voted for a non-Dravidian party in over six decades. The last time was back in 1962 when the K Kamraj-led Congress won.

The DMK and AIADMK have traded election wins and rotated governments since.

Family of TVK chief and actor Vijay blow whistles and celebrate at their residence, as the party continues its lead in the state. 

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Elections 2026 | Family of TVK chief and actor Vijay blow whistles and celebrate at their residence, as the party continues its lead in the state. It is currently leading on 104 of the total 234 seats in the state.
(Video Source: TVK PRO) pic.twitter.com/Ya9iT2MFNH

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

Kolathur: TVK leading, DMK trailing

Electors before SIR: 2,82,966

Electors after SIR: 2,21,988

Voter deletion: 75,715

Victory margin: 6,504

Previous winner: DMK

Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni: DMK leading, TVK trailing

Electors before SIR: 2,33,939

Electors after SIR: 1,63,866

Voter deletion: 70,073

Victory margin: 1,770

Previous winner: DMK

Perambur: TVK leading, DMK trailing

Electors before SIR: 2,84,072

Electors after SIR: 2,22,792

Voter deletion: 61,280

Victory margin: -

Previous winner: DMK

Tiruchipalli East: TVK leading, DMK trailing

Electors before SIR: 2,68,439

Electors after SIR: 2,56,377

Voter deletion: 12,062

Victory margin: -

Previous winner: DMK

Edapaddi: AIADMK leading, Independent candidate trailing

Electors before SIR: 2,60,402

Electors after SIR: 2,35,584

Voter deletion: 24,818

Victory margin: -

Previous winner: AIADMK

TVK: 105

AIADMK: 63

DMK: 45

Congress: 5

PMK: 4

TVK workers distribute sweets outside the party HQ in Chennai, as the party continues its lead in the state and is poised to emerge as the single-largest party.

It is currently leading in 109 seats of the total 234 in the state.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Elections 2026 | TVK workers distribute sweets outside the party HQ in Chennai, as the party continues its lead in the state and is poised to emerge as the single-largest party.
It is currently leading in 108 seats of the total 234 in the state. pic.twitter.com/SQjeURyl6z

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

If Vijay wins Tamil Nadu in 2026, he will do what no film star has managed in 49 years: become the state's first actor-turned Chief Minister since M.G. Ramachandran reshaped politics in 1977.

The last time cinema directly conquered Fort St George, MGR swept the 1977 Assembly election and ruled Tamil Nadu for a decade until his death in 1987. He converted fan devotion into an institutional political machine, embedded welfare as an emotional contract with voters, and permanently altered how personality and policy intersect in the state. 

No actor since has crossed that final electoral threshold, despite repeated attempts and massive fan followings.

Early counting trends in the 2026 Assembly election suggest Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a party barely two years old, is hovering around the 100-118 seat range. Even at the lower end, that places Vijay firmly in the top tier of state politics; at the upper end, it pushes him within touching distance of the 118 seats needed for a majority in the 234-member House.

What makes this rise striking is how compressed, and deliberate, it has been.

Unlike predecessors who flirted with politics while remaining anchored in cinema.

The formation of government in Tamil Nadu may require a kingmaker after Vijay's stellar debut disrupted the political duopoly the state had been witnessing for several decades. The triangular contest, which the actor-politician's TVK is leading by a substantial margin as counting of votes progressed, has ensured that no party is poised to reach the magic figure of 118. The distant-second AIADMK appears to have gauged the possible post-poll situation and is playing hard-to-get, as it says it will not join an alliance with TVK even if Vijay offers.

C Ponnaiyan, a senior leader of the AIADMK, told NDTV in an interview that his party will decline any alliance offer from the TVK.

"They (TVK) are doing well in urban areas. We will do well in rural areas, when counting goes there, we will win more and EPS (Edappadi K. Palaniswami)  will become CM," he added.

"Our alliance is strong and united, and we won't join hands with TVK," he added.

Congress leader Praveen Chakravarthy told NDTV that a combination of Rahul Gandhi and TVK's Vijay would have "swept" Tamil Nadu.

"A combination of Rahul Gandhi & Vijay would have swept Tamil Nadu" : Congress' Praveen Chakravarthy (@pravchak) to NDTV#ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/b79cRhnhvP

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

TVK cadres danced and whistled as trends showed the party's leads in the high-stakes three-cornered Tamil Nadu battle.

TVK Cadres Dance, Whistle As Trends Show Vijay's Party Leads Tamil Nadu Battle#Vijay #ResultsWithNDTV #ElectionResults #AssemblyElections #TamilNaduElections #TVK pic.twitter.com/VdI6m1XXvp

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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.

#WATCH | Celebrations at Vijay's house as trends show TVK's lead in Tamil Nadu battle#Vijay #ResultsWithNDTV #ElectionResults #AssemblyElections #TamilNaduElections pic.twitter.com/C2rRbmt61l

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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.

TVK supporters erupt in celebration as early trends project party's win in Tamil Nadu @Vasudha156 #ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/BY37hjFWfn

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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.

DMK supporters break down as DMK trails in Tamil Nadu as per trends @jsamdaniel #ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/6NhJhOppM4

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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

#ResultsWithNDTV | As AIADMK and TVK leads show neck & neck in Tamil Nadu, NDTV's @radhika1705 tracks the mood from AIADMK headquarters in Chennai pic.twitter.com/mm26NKQAZp

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: TVK Election Campaign Management General Secretary arrived at the vote-counting centre at Loyola College and proceeded inside after displaying a victory sign pic.twitter.com/zTCupPh40n

— IANS (@ians_india) May 4, 2026

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:

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 | Counting of votes cast through EVMs has begun at a counting centre in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/vzvimLTgd8

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

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

"It is too early to say anything" : DMK MP Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy (@kalanidhiveera1) to NDTV@rahulkanwal @ShivAroor @PadmajaJoshi @TMVRaghav#ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/fRuAujjqhb

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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.

AIADMK headquarters in Chennai echoes with slogans as counting of Assembly election votes unfolds, with results expected throughout the day.
NDTV's @radhika1705 reports#ResultsWithNDTV #TamilNaduElectionResults pic.twitter.com/zv1PvikDue

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Elections 2026 | Counting of votes cast through EVMs has begun at a counting centre in Tiruchirappalli. pic.twitter.com/Ur0tgKE5RJ

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

Vote counting underway in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore.

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Vote counting underway in Coimbatore as officials continue election process operations pic.twitter.com/Gh92Sz196U

— IANS (@ians_india) May 4, 2026

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.

Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu: Tension broke out at a vote counting center in Vaniyambadi during ongoing counting operations. The incident involved former minister K.C. Veeramani, who got into an argument with police officials pic.twitter.com/GtA7zgtggx

— IANS (@ians_india) May 4, 2026

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.

#ResultsWithNDTV | NDTV's @Vasudha156 & @jsamdaniel captures the mood at DMK headquarters in Chennai as early leads trickle in pic.twitter.com/ew7rvpUEaG

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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:

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Vote counting has officially commenced at the Queen Mary's College counting center. The process began with the counting of postal ballots pic.twitter.com/dn9CwMTETu

— IANS (@ians_india) May 4, 2026

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.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections | Visuals from the AIADMK Office in Chennai.
Counting of votes for all 234 Assembly constituencies of the state will begin at 8 AM today. pic.twitter.com/u7gMFLhLSU

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

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.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Elections 2026 | Visuals from the counting centre set up at Loyola College, where votes for several key Assembly constituencies will be counted today.
According to officials, counting at Loyola College covers the following constituencies:
Thousand Lights… pic.twitter.com/ZszSZtY6E8

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

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

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections | Visuals from outside Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai.
Counting of votes for 234 Assembly constituencies of the state will begin at 8 AM today. pic.twitter.com/A5sGuaBPtZ

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

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.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections | Visuals from outside the TVK headquarters in Chennai.
Counting of votes for 234 Assembly constituencies of the state will begin at 8 AM today. pic.twitter.com/oqqbj2kEMu

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026

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. 

மயிலாப்பூர் சட்டமன்ற தொகுதியின் வாக்கு எண்ணிக்கைக்காக கிளம்பி கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்.... அரசியலில் எனது பல ஆண்டுகால போராட்டத்திற்கு இன்று ஒரு பதில் கிடைக்கும் என்று எண்ணுகிறேன்... ஆளுநராக இருந்து இதற்கு ஏன் போட்டி போடுகிறார்கள்? பதவி ஆசை என்றனர் சிலர்.. பரிகசிப்பவர்களை பற்றி எனக்கு… pic.twitter.com/WvtPOPU5hA

— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisai4BJP) May 3, 2026

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. 

#ResultsWithNDTV | Will 'Vijay Effect' Take Over State Or DMK Retain Its Position?
NDTV's @Vasudha156 reports from outside Loyola College in Chennai pic.twitter.com/xoQxqNEZkE

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

Security has been heightened outside polling booths in Tamil Nadu.

VIDEO | Tamil Nadu Poll Results 2026: Security beefed up outside Loyola College; officials checking everyone ahead of counting.#TamilNaduPollResults2026 #Results2026WithPTI #AssemblyElectionResults2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/hZo7L1DQAy

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 4, 2026

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.

🔴Watch #ResultsWithNDTV | 5 state elections - 1 destination for all the non-stop coverage, data analysis and more@rahulkanwal @ShivAroor @VishnuNDTV @PadmajaJoshi @TMVRaghav @Vasudha156 https://t.co/MgeciMCEPS

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 4, 2026

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.