Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026: Key candidates and constituencies to watch out for

Campaigning for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has officially ended, setting the stage for single-phase voting across all 234 constituencies on Thursday.

The contest is widely seen as a straight fight between the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the opposition National Democratic Alliance, where the AIADMK is the main regional force. Within the national parties, Congress is aligned with the DMK, while the BJP has tied up with the AIADMK, which remains the DMK’s principal rival in the state.

Actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is also contesting the polls and is expected to draw support from younger voters.

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In total, more than 4,000 candidates are in the race, including several prominent figures.

Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Major candidates:

MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK): The chief minister and his deputy chief minister son are contesting from Kolathur and Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, respectively. Stalin, a multiple-term MLA, has represented Kolathur since 2011, while Udhayanidhi is aiming to retain Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni for the DMK, having been the winning candidate in the 2021 polls.

Vijay (TVK): The actor-politician is leading TVK from the front and is contesting from two constituencies, Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur. The party, launched in February 2024, has fielded candidates in all 234 seats.

Edappadi K Palaniswami (AIADMK): The AIADMK general secretary and the NDA’s chief ministerial face is contesting from his home turf of Edappadi. The former chief minister is seeking a fourth successive term from Edappadi, which he has held since 2011.

O Panneerselvam (DMK): A one-time staunch loyalist of former chief minister and AIADMK stalwart J. Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam made a shock move to the DMK ahead of the polls. The Stalin-led party has fielded the former chief minister from his stronghold Bodinayakkanur, which he won in three successive elections—2011, 2016 and 2021—for the AIADMK.

Tamilisai Soundararajan (BJP): A senior BJP leader and former Telangana governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan is contesting from the Mylapore constituency. A former president of the party’s Tamil Nadu unit, she also previously served as Puducherry’s lieutenant governor.

Nainar Nagendran (BJP): The BJP’s state unit chief is contesting from Sattur, shifting from the Tirunelveli constituency, which he won in the 2021 elections.

Major constituencies

Edappadi
Edappadi is one of the important constituencies in the state and is currently represented by AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami. The seat is considered a traditional stronghold of the AIADMK and is seen as significant for the party’s prospects in Tamil Nadu politics.

Tiruchirappalli East
This constituency is witnessing a high-profile contest, with actor-politician Vijay entering the race. He is up against DMK’s two-time sitting MLA Inigo Irudayaraj, while AIADMK has fielded K Rajasekaran. Vijay is also contesting from Perambur in his debut election.

Kolathur
Chief Minister M K Stalin is seeking re-election from Kolathur, a constituency he has represented since 2011. The seat remains a stronghold of the DMK and has been held by Stalin for three consecutive terms.

Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar
Once regarded as an AIADMK bastion, the constituency has seen a shift in political control. It is currently represented by DMK’s J John Ebenezer. The seat was earlier held by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in 2015–16. After her death, T T V Dhinakaran won the seat as an independent candidate amid a politically charged contest.

(With inputs from TOI)