Actor turned politician Vijay is set for a historic debut at the Tamil Nadu Assembly as he makes a successful transition from cinema to politics.
The verdict day is underway in Tamil Nadu, with counting of votes for the 234-member Assembly election in progress on Monday, May 4. Polling was held in a single phase on April 23, recording a turnout of 85.1%, with nearly 4.8 crore voters participating, according to the Election Commission of India.
Vijay and the TVK are poised for a landmark breakthrough in Tamil Nadu politics, with early counting trends showing the party surging ahead in Assembly seats and vote share, raising the possibility that a two-year-old outfit could secure power in the state for the first time.
This election has evolved into a closely watched three-cornered contest involving the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and the debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay. Vijay’s entry into electoral politics has emerged as one of the key talking points this time.
While most exit polls pointed towards an advantage for the DMK-led alliance, some projections suggested that TVK could register a notable performance, keeping the final outcome open-ended. The Naam Tamilar Katchi, led by Seeman, is also in the fray across all constituencies.
According to current counting trends, the TVK is leading with around 110 seats, putting it in a relatively stronger position compared to other parties. However, it still needs additional seats to cross the majority mark of 118.
AIADMK is emerging as the second-largest party with around 56 seats, while the DMK is trailing with 49 seats. The Congress (INC) is currently at 4 seats, as per early indications.
Based on early numbers, TVK would require 8 more seats to reach the majority mark, while AIADMK would need 62 additional seats. The Congress faces a larger gap, requiring 114 more seats to form a majority.
One of the biggest talking points in the TVK manifesto Tamil Nadu elections is its aggressive welfare package for women. The party promised a monthly handout of Rs 2,500 for women heads of families, along with six free LPG cylinders annually and dedicated safety measures including a separate department and special women’s courts.
TVK also promised one-time support measures such as gold coins and silk sarees for brides, and financial assistance for mothers of newborn girls. For self-help groups, the manifesto includes a proposed financial support of up to Rs 5 lakh, positioning women-centric welfare as a key pillar of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results 2026 campaign narrative.
