Debutant party leads in 110 seats, just eight short of the halfway mark; AIADMK holds second spot while DMK slips in multiple constituencies
Tamil Nadu: Counting of votes for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly has entered a decisive phase, with C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is emerging as the single largest force in early trends. The party is leading in 110 seats, just eight short of the 118 required for a majority, signalling a potential political shift in the state.
Initially, the contest appeared to follow the traditional pattern, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) trading leads. However, as counting progressed, TVK surged ahead, pushing DMK to third position in several constituencies, while AIADMK retained a stronger footing in second place.
In key races, Vijay is leading from Tiruchirappalli East by 5,286 votes after three rounds, although earlier trends showed fluctuations in both Perambur and Trichy segments. Meanwhile, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is ahead by over 17,000 votes in Edappadi, with other party candidates also maintaining solid leads.
On the other hand, DMK faces setbacks, as Chief Minister M. K. Stalin trails by 2,277 votes in Kolathur. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is behind by 1,244 votes in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, while several senior ministers continue to lag in their constituencies.
Despite early projections suggesting TVK could win only 3 to 15 seats, the party’s current performance indicates a far stronger conversion of vote share into leads. Analysts believe even a partial consolidation could mark one of the most significant electoral realignments in Tamil Nadu in decades.
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