Tamil Nadu Elections 2026: High-Stakes Battle for 234 Seats as DMK Faces AIADMK-BJP Challenge
Over 5.73 crore voters, including 14.5 lakh first-time electors, to cast ballots across 75,000+ polling stations
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on Thursday in a high-stakes battle which will test the popularity of the ruling DMK-led coalition and the mettle of the AIADMK and BJP’s NDA bloc.
The election is a crucial test for DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin who led the campaign from the front, pivoting it mainly around what he described as BJP’s attempts to impose its own cultural and political agenda in the state dominated by Dravidian politics.
The AIADMK and the BJP, on the other hand, have campaigned against the “DMK’s misrule”.
The state will see 5.73 crore voters decide the fate of 4,023 candidates.
Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik today said the state was prepared for the exercise.
“The total electoral strength stands at 5.73 crore, comprising 2.93 women, 2.83 crore men and 7,728 third-gender persons.
As many as 14,59,039 first-time voters have been enrolled. The voting will take place across 75,064 polling stations situated in 33,133 locations, with the commission deploying 1,06,418 ballot units along with 75,064 control units and VVPAT machines. To prevent any technical delays, a reserve of 20 per cent for EVMs and 30 per cent for VVPATs has been maintained,” the CEO said. The state Assembly has 234 seats.
Ahead of the polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “The Congress-DMK alliance has a proud history of social justice in Tamil Nadu. We are committed to carrying it forward. My message to the people of Tamil Nadu: Protect your identity, your language, your rights. Vote for the INDIA block. Vote for the Congress.”
The AIADMK and the BJP, on the other hand, called for a change.
Stalin is, meanwhile, seeking a second term in office.
