Tamil Nadu Election Results 2026 Highlight: Tamil Nadu stares at hung assembly as TVK falls short of halfway mark

In a significant political development, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has responded to what observers have described as a disappointing performance by his party. Taking to X, Stalin acknowledged the outcome and accepted the people’s mandate with humility.

“We bow to and accept the verdict of the people. Congratulations to the victors,” he wrote. Reflecting on his government’s tenure, Stalin highlighted that over the past five years, his administration had implemented numerous development projects and ensured effective governance, claiming that Tamil Nadu had progressed on multiple fronts.

He further noted that the party’s campaign focused solely on its achievements. “We sought votes by speaking about our work and aimed to continue the welfare schemes introduced for the people,” he stated.

Expressing gratitude, Stalin thanked the citizens who supported the secular progressive alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Notably, Stalin lost from his own home constituency of Kolathur earlier today as per electoral data posted by ECI.

R Sabarinathan, the 30-year-old son of actor-politician Vijay's long-time driver and personal assistant Rajendran, has won in the Virugambakkam assembly constituency here.

Sabarinathan, contesting on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket, won by 27,086 votes, according to the latest Election Commission figures.

Rajendran has been associated with Vijay since the actor's debut film 'Naalaiya Theerpu', serving as his driver and personal aide.

Sabarinathan emerged as one of the most talked-about candidates of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections after an emotional video of him breaking down on stage went viral, shortly after his name figured among TVK's list of candidates.

The Virugambakkam constituency, located in Chennai district, has changed hands between three different parties across the last five Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

In one of the more stunning upsets of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, K. Vijay Dhamu, a former auto driver representing the debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has unseated veteran political heavyweight D. Jayakumar in the Royapuram constituency. Interested readers can learn more about the development here.

"Gratitude to the voters of Tamil Nadu who supported the NDA in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections. We will always remain at the forefront in addressing people’s issues and improving their lives. Congratulations to TVK on their impressive performance. The Centre will leave no stone unturned in furthering the progress of Tamil Nadu and the well-being of their people," PM Modi wrote on X.

As Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is poised to become the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, party leader Aadhav Arjuna on Monday said that the victory is dedicated to the tragic Karur incident.

He referred to a crowd stampede that occurred during the public outreach programme of TVK chief Vijay in Karur last year on September 27, resulting in the deaths of 41 people.

Setting a combative note, Arjuna, who is also TVK's general secretary of campaign management, described DMK as a party that uses "cash-for-votes", stating that the MK Stalin government was "thrown out" by the people of Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "We dedicate this victory to the Karur incident.

With multiple rounds of counting completed, early leads are now stabilising into near-final outcomes. Several constituencies are close to declaring official winners as per ECI updates. The remaining seats with tight margins may take a few more rounds before final confirmation.

Latest ECI party-wise data indicates that TVK is leading comfortably, while AIADMK is in second position and DMK in third. Smaller parties like Congress and PMK are also showing limited presence. These trends highlight a major political shift in Tamil Nadu’s electoral landscape.

Vijay Deverakonda, Sivakarthikeyan, Kajal Aggarwal and many other South film industry celebrities extended their heartfelt congratulations to the actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay after the counting trends in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections showed his party leading 99 constituencies and won 10 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly, according to ECI results at 5 pm.

Actress Kajal Aggarwal, who is known for her films like 'Magadheera', 'Arya 2', and 'Singham' congratulated Vijay on his impressive lead in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026, describing it as a "spectacular and resounding victory" for the actor.

Taking to her X handle, Kajal wrote, "Naan oru thadava sonna, nooru thadava sonna maari and today, the people have echoed it back with absolute conviction. Heartiest congratulations to Vijay on this spectacular and resounding victory! This moment is a true testament to your vision, your perseverance, and the unwavering love people have for you."

She added, "The people of Tamil Nadu have spoken-loud, clear, and with immense pride. This isn't just a win, it's a celebration of a deep, powerful connection with millions. Wishing you great strength and success as you step into this inspiring new chapter. May you bring the change so many are hoping for. Congratulations once again on this phenomenal achievement!"

Director and TVK chief Vijay’s father SA Chandrasekhar said, “As a father, I am very proud and happy. My wishes to my son. In the last two years, his confidence has been fantastic and the faith that I will come as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. I’m appreciating that attitude. As a leader, his boldness is that I will stand on my own legs with no alliance. I think it’s a historical success, a historical victory for Vijay.”

Vijay's TVK candidate P Chandrasekar defeated AIADMK candidate C Chandrasekaran by over 2,500 votes to win Senthamangalam seat.

According to the ECI data, TVK candidates Venkataramanan P and M Vignesh emerged victorious on Mylapore and Musiri seats, respectively.

According to the ECI data, DMK emerged victorious in Udumalaipettai constituency after defeating AIADMK's Radhakrishnan by over 2,000 votes.

According to ECI's data, the AIADMK candidate MR Vijayabhaskar is leading in Karur seat with voting percentage of 92.62 per cent voter turnout.

TVK candidate Ramesh is ahead with 73,011 votes, while DMK's Durairaj has secured 45,428 votes, pushing the margin to 27,573 votes.

Speaking to reporters, SA Chandrasekhar praised Vijay for contesting independently and called it a bold and principled decision. When asked about coalition government, he said that Vijay would ultimately act in people's best interests.

MK Stalin's DMK has won the first seat in Tamil Nadu with party candidate M Dhravidamani emerging victorious in the Gudulur Assembly constituency. According to the ECI's official website, the DMK candidate bagged 65,590 votes and claimed the seat with a margin of 22,833 votes.

After losing his lead for one round, DMK candidate O Panneerselvam is again taken the in Bodinayakanur after 11 rounds of counting.

Former Tamil Nadu Governor and BJP candidate Tamilisai Sounderarajan is trailing by over 21,000 votes. TVK candidate P Ventakaramanan is heading the pack with nearly 38,000 votes.

Director and TVK chief Vijay's father SA Chandrasekhar said, "As a father, I am very proud and happy. My wishes to my son. In the last two years, his confidence has been fantastic and the faith that I will come as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. I'm appreciating that attitude. As a leader, his boldness is that I will stand on my own legs with no alliance. I think it's a historical success, a historical victory for Vijay."

Actor Trisha Krishnan on Monday arrived at actor-turned-politician Vijay's residence in Chennai. Presently, TVK is leading in 109 seats of the total 234 in the state.

Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff on Monday (May 4) extended wishes to actor-politician Vijay as TVK shows strong lead in Tamil Nadu. Taking to X, he said, "Congratulations to Vijay. The faith people have in you is amazing to see. More power to you for this next chapter!"

As the actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK emerged as the largest single party in Tamil Nadu, here's a look at some of his key promises from the election manifesto:

Monthly handout of Rs 2,500 for every woman in the state.

Handout of Rs 10,000 for unemployed graduates.

Waiver for cooperative crop loans.

A ministry of artificial intelligence.

The Indian National Congress, a key alliance member in the DMK coalition is leading in five seats in the state. The party is leading in Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvadanai, Cuddalore, Vilavancode, and Colachal constituencies.

Earlier in the day, Vijay took early steps to keep his party united after exit polls projected a strong debut for TVK in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Sources said Vijay directed all winning candidates to immediately reach the party headquarters in Panaiyur after results are declared, amid fears of possible poaching attempts by rival parties, reported India Today.

Read here for more updates: Vijay gets blockbuster electoral debut in Tamil Nadu, mulls 'resort' move for winning MLAs

At Anna Arivalayam, tents and pandals were taken down by party workers. As TVK took the lead in Tamil Nadu, the workers were seen dismantling the tents and eyes filled with tears.

TVK candidate VK Ramkumar is leading by 6743 votes at the end of six rounds of counting, according to data available on ECI website. DMK candidate N Chitrarasu is trailing.

Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin is currently trailing from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni assembly seat as counting progresses. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate Selvam D is leading with a margin of more than 1244 votes, according to data shared on the ECI website.

According to the data shared by the Election Commission of India, Chief Minister MK Stalin is still trailing after five rounds of counting.

According to the data shared by the Election Commission of India, Chief Minister MK Stalin trailing after four rounds of counting, raising questions about voter shifts and local dynamics.

Tamil Nadu Assembly has a total of 234 seats. To form a government, a party or coalition must secure at least 118 seats.