The morning hours saw a steady pace of polling as several prominent leaders and public figures exercised their franchise before 9 am. Chief Minister MK Stalin cast his vote in Chennai alongside Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, while AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami recorded his vote in Salem. The electoral landscape was further highlighted by the presence of actor-politicians Vijay, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Ajith Kumar, who were all observed at polling booths during the early hours of the day.
This single-phase election for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly began at 7:00 am, with the final results slated for counting on May 4. This outcome will determine the next government to take office before the current Assembly’s tenure expires on May 10. The contest has generated significant global and domestic anticipation as voters weigh the prospects of the DMK’s “Rising Sun” securing a successive term against the potential for the AIADMK’s “Two Leaves” to stage a political comeback.
While the primary confrontation is between the ruling Congress and DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the BJP-AIADMK coalition, the entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has transformed the landscape into a multi-cornered contest. A total of 4,023 candidates are in the fray, including high-profile figures such as Chief Minister MK Stalin, who is seeking a second straight term from Kolathur in Chennai. His son, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, is contesting from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni. Representing the opposition, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami is contesting from his stronghold in Edappadi in the Salem district. Making a notable electoral debut, Vijay is contesting from two separate constituencies: Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli East.
The current political atmosphere follows the 2021 Assembly elections, which resulted in a decisive victory for the DMK-led alliance with 159 seats, compared to the 75 seats secured by the AIADMK-led coalition. In the current cycle, the DMK is contesting 164 seats and has allocated 70 to its allies, including the Congress. Throughout the campaign, the DMK framed the election as a fundamental struggle between Tamil Nadu and the “Delhi-NDA,” directing sharp criticism at the BJP-led Centre. Conversely, the AIADMK, which is contesting 169 seats and providing 65 to its allies—including 27 for the BJP—targeted the DMK on issues of alleged dynasty politics, law and order concerns, rising debt, and claims regarding drug prevalence and the safety of women and children.
Adding a fresh layer of competition, the Vijay-led TVK has signaled an ambitious statewide push by fielding candidates in all 234 constituencies for its debut outing. To ensure the integrity of the democratic process, election authorities have deployed approximately 1,700 companies of central armed police forces across the state. These security measures follow extensive mock polling exercises, including those conducted at Chennai High School, to ensure a glitch-free experience on this pivotal election day. This monumental exercise in democracy stands as a final referendum on the incumbent administration and a test of the shifting political alliances in southern India.
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