Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026:The Election Commission of India has declared the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 schedule which prepares southern India for its most important electoral contest.
The upcoming election will determine the next five years of governance in one of India’s most politically powerful states. All major political parties in the state are currently campaigning while forming new alliances.
Election Date and Full Poll Schedule
The Election Commission has confirmed that voting for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will take place in a single phase on April 23 2026. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on May 4 2026.
The election notification will be issued on March 30 and candidates may start filing their nominations until April 6. Scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for April 7 while candidates can withdraw their nominations until April 9.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026: Total Seats
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly consists of 234 seats and elections will be held for all of them during the 2026 polls. To form the government a party or coalition must secure at least 118 seats which represents the majority mark in the Assembly.
The seats will be distributed throughout the state constituencies which include both urban areas and rural regions that extend from Chennai to different parts of the state. The outcome will determine the composition of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
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Electorate: How Many Voters Will Cast Their Ballots?
The Election Commission confirms that Tamil Nadu has 5.67 crore registered voters who can vote in the 2026 Assembly elections.
The voter distribution includes:
- 27.7 million male voters
- 28.9 million female voters
- Over 7,600 third-gender voters
Main Political Players in the 2026 Contest
DMK-Led Alliance
The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, is seeking another term in power. The party leads the Secular Progressive Alliance which consists of its partners Congress and various regional parties.
AIADMK-Led Alliance
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) serves as the main opposition party which Edappadi K. Palaniswami leads. The party will work with its allied parties to reclaim power following its election defeat which includes the BJP and other regional partners.
Emerging and Regional Parties
The electoral scene in India has received support from various vital political entities which exist outside the two major Dravidian parties.
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)
- Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK)
- Actor Vijay’s political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)
The 2021 Election Result
The DMK regained power in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections following their ten-year period in opposition. The party won 133 seats, defeating the AIADMK-led alliance and bringing M. K. Stalin to office as Chief Minister.
