Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026: Voting on April 23, Counting on May 4

Tamil Nadu, one of the key states heading to the polls in the upcoming round of assembly elections, is set to witness an intense political battle. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, will face strong competition from the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), headed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Political observers expect a closely fought contest between the two major Dravidian parties, both of which have historically dominated the state’s political landscape. With alliances, campaign strategies, and public outreach likely to intensify in the coming weeks, the election is anticipated to draw significant attention across the state.

Poll Date And Counting Of Votes

The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced that the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will take place in a single phase on April 23. The announcement came as part of the broader schedule for assembly elections in four regions, including West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Authorities stated that the counting of votes will be conducted on May 4. With the poll schedule now officially declared, political parties are expected to accelerate their campaigning efforts, finalise candidate lists, and mobilise supporters ahead of the crucial electoral contest in the southern state.

Assembly Duration

The current legislative term in Tamil Nadu began after the formation of the 16th assembly following the 2021 elections. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly was officially constituted on May 3, 2021, after the results of the previous polls were declared and the new government assumed office. According to constitutional provisions, the tenure of a state assembly generally lasts five years unless dissolved earlier. As a result, the existing assembly is scheduled to complete its term in May 2026. The upcoming election will therefore determine the composition of the next legislative body that will govern the state for the next five years.

Assembly Election 2021:

In the previous assembly election held in 2021, the DMK secured a decisive victory and returned to power after being out of office for ten years. The party achieved a strong mandate by winning 159 of the 234 seats in the state assembly. Its alliance partner, the Indian National Congress, also performed well by winning 18 constituencies it contested. Meanwhile, the opposition bloc led by the National Democratic Alliance managed to secure only 75 seats. Within this alliance, the AIADMK won 66 seats, the Pattali Makkal Katchi secured five, and the Bharatiya Janata Party won four seats.