What is the story about?
The dust has settled on the polling booths across Tamil Nadu and the state now holds its breath for May 4 when the winners of an intensely fought election
will be declared. Elections to 234 Assembly constituencies were held on April 23, and the polled votes will be taken up for counting on Monday (May 4). The state witnessed an intense three-cornered contest involving the ruling DMK, its main rival AIADMK, and the new entrant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by actor Vijay.
Top Seats to Watch in Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026
Kolathur: Tamil Nadu CM and DMK chief MK Stalin is contesting from Kolathur. The constituency falls in Chennai district.
Chepauk–Thiruvallikeni: MK Stalin’s son and state’s deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is seeking a second consecutive term as MLA from Chepauk–Thiruvallikeni.
Edappadi – The constituency is the home turf of Edappadi K Palaniswami. For the unversed, Edappadi K Palaniswami is heading the AIADMK-led alliance.
Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur - Debutant Vijay is contesting the Tamil Nadu assembly elections from these two constituencies.
Edappadi: The assembly constituency in Salem district has been an AIADMK stronghold since 2011 and is represented by former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Three-Tier Security in Place in Tamil Nadu
According to the Election Commission, a three-tier security system will be in place at counting centres.
Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, in a statement, said that the first tier - a security perimeter extending 100 metres around each counting centre - has been established. Entry within this zone will be strictly restricted to authorised personnel, she added.
Patnaik said the second tier, comprising the entry gates of the counting premises, will be secured by the State Armed Police.
“They will regulate access and prevent unauthorised movement or loitering within the premises,” she said, adding that the use of mobile phones and other communication devices will be permitted only in designated areas.
According to the CEO, the third tier, the innermost security layer, located at the entrance to the counting halls and the EVM strong rooms, will be managed by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
What Exit Polls Predicted For Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026
Exit poll predictions are out, but confusion prevails about the fate of Tamil Nadu assembly elections as pollsters seem divided about the Dravidian state forecast. JVC Voter has emerged as the big outlier in Tamil Nadu's exit poll battle, becoming the only major pollster to predict a clear win for the AIADMK-led alliance.
Read More - Why Tamil Nadu Exit Polls Are So Confusing: Three-Way Battle Leaves Pollsters Split
According to JVC Voter, the AIADMK alliance could win 128-148 seats, comfortably ahead of the DMK-led front, which it projects at just 75-95 seats. It sees actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) winning only 8-15 seats.
That sharply contrasts with most other exit polls, which put the DMK-led alliance ahead. Agencies such as Peoples Pulse, Peoples Insight, Praja Poll, P-Marq and Matrize have all projected a DMK victory, though their seat estimates vary.
