HIGHLIGHTS | Tamil Nadu Assembly election 2026: Historic 84.29% voter turnout recorded at 6 pm as poll ends

* Polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began at 7 am across the State.

* Actor Ajith Kumar was among the first to vote, arriving early under special security arrangements and drawing large crowds.

* Chief Minister MK Stalin cast his vote in Alwarpet and said, “Tamil Nadu will win,” urging people to vote. His family members also exercised their franchise.

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to voters, especially youth and women, to ensure record turnout.

* Early hours saw EVM glitches at several booths, delaying voting in some centres.

* Kongu region recorded higher initial turnout, while Chennai and southern districts lagged behind in the morning.

* Scores of voters paired white shirts with khaki pants, to show support for Vijay & TVK, reflecting the actor-politcian's choice of attire. Many on social media termed the outfit as a "code word". However, even leaders like Chief Minister Stalin and BJP leader Annamalai dressed that way today.

* Severe transport issues hit passengers travelling to their hometowns to vote, with congestion reported at major bus terminus.

* TVK chief Vijay urged the Election Commission to extend polling hours, citing transport disruptions.

* Complete boycott in Tirunelveli: In Nanguneri Perumpathu village, all 969 voters at booth 290 stayed away demanding justice in a double murder case.

* A heated argument broke out between BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan and DMK workers at a polling booth in Chennai; police intervened.

* Boycotts were reported in Vengaivayal (Pudukkottai) and villages in Ettayapuram over unresolved local issues.

* A first-time voter in Alandur alleged his vote had already been cast by someone else, raising concerns.

* Turnout rose steadily: 17.69% (9 am), 39.56% (11 am), 56.81% (1 pm), 70% (3 pm), and 82.24% (5 pm) and 84.29% (6 pm) .

* By 3 pm, Tamil Nadu recorded around 70% turnout, with Chennai at 68.13%.

* With turnout surging to 82.24% by 5 pm, the 2026 polls have blown past the 2021 final figure of 73.63%.

* A scuffle occurred between DMK’s PK Sekarbabu and TVK candidate Sinora P Sinora Ashok in Harbour constituency.

* Final turnout reached 84.29% at 6 pm, with polling concluding and EVMs sealed for counting.

Voter turnout in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections reached 84.29% as of 6 pm.

The high percentage reflects strong participation across the State, with polling concluding on a brisk note.

MK Stalin’s Kolathur constituency recorded 83.58% turnout, while Perambur, where Vijay is in the fray, saw 86.72%.

Edappadi constituency of Edappadi K Palaniswami registered 89.09%, Tiruchy East (Vijay) recorded 79.32%, and Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni, represented by Udhayanidhi Stalin, saw 81.89% polling.

Former minister HV Hande (99) cast his vote in person at a polling booth in the Thousand Lights constituency, opting not to use the postal ballot facility despite being eligible.

Sharing his inked finger photo, he drew praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who lauded the gesture and expressed hope that more young voters would participate to strengthen democracy.

Just five votes were recorded at booth No 290 in Perumpathu, under Nanguneri constituency, where residents boycotted the election demanding justice in a double murder case.

Despite the boycott call, a handful of voters turned up, while the majority stayed away from polling in protest.

A face-to-face altercation broke out between DMK candidate PK Sekarbabu and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam candidate Sinora P Sinora Ashok in the Harbour Assembly constituency on Thursday evening.

The incident created tension at the polling spot, with officials stepping in to defuse the situation as voting was underway.

The electorate fell from 6.29 crore in the 2021 polls to 5.73 crore in 2026, yet more people turned up to vote this time, with 4.71 crore votes already polled (82.24% at 5 pm), higher than 4.63 crore in 2021.

This comes in the backdrop of the recent purification of electoral rolls via the SIR exercise, during which 97 lakh names were removed due to death, duplication, migration and other reasons, while 30 lakh new voters were added. As a result, the electorate shrank by around 67 lakh (10.45%).

Voter turnout in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has seen significant fluctuations over the decades, ranging from a low of 46.56% in 1957 to a high of 78.01% in 2011.

Recent elections have consistently recorded strong participation, with 74.81% in 2016 and 73.63% in 2021. In 2026, turnout surged to 82.24% as of 5 pm, indicating one of the highest polling percentages in the State’s history.

The steady rise in voter engagement over the years reflects increasing awareness and participation in the democratic process across Tamil Nadu.

1952 (375 constituencies): Total Votes: 3,66,00,615 | Polled Votes: 2,00,28,423 | Poll %: 54.75

1957 (205 constituencies): Total Votes: 2,39,05,575 | Polled Votes: 1,11,30,996 | Poll %: 46.56

1962 (206 constituencies): Total Votes: 1,86,75,436 | Polled Votes: 1,28,43,984 | Poll %: 68.77

1967 (234 constituencies): Total Votes: 2,07,99,362 | Polled Votes: 1,59,25,796 | Poll %: 76.77

1971: Total Votes: 2,29,76,680 | Polled Votes: 1,65,67,286 | Poll %: 72.10

1977: Total Votes: 2,81,61,418 | Polled Votes: 1,73,42,799 | Poll %: 61.58

1980: Total Votes: 2,91,97,882 | Polled Votes: 1,91,01,113 | Poll %: 65.42

1984: Total Votes: 3,09,47,873 | Polled Votes: 2,27,35,869 | Poll %: 73.47

1989: Total Votes: 3,52,94,451 | Polled Votes: 2,54,78,644 | Poll %: 69.69

1991: Total Votes: 3,99,08,787 | Polled Votes: 2,54,78,644 | Poll %: 63.84

1996: Total Votes: 4,24,78,965 | Polled Votes: 2,84,39,249 | Poll %: 66.95

2001: Total Votes: 4,74,79,000 | Polled Votes: 2,80,48,077 | Poll %: 59.07

2006*: Total Votes: 4,66,03,352 | Polled Votes: 3,30,05,492 | Poll %: 70.82

2011: Total Votes: 4,71,15,846 | Polled Votes: 3,67,56,813 | Poll %: 78.01

2016: Total Votes: 5,77,91,397 | Polled Votes: 4,32,34,665 | Poll %: 74.81

2021: Total Votes: 6,29,43,693 | Polled Votes: 4,63,44,590 | Poll %: 73.63

2026: Total Votes: 5,73,43,291 | Polled Votes: 4,71,59,122 | Poll %: 82.24 (till 5 pm)

Karur recorded the highest voter turnout at 89.32% till 5 pm, followed by Salem at 88.02% and Namakkal at 87.63%.

Erode registered 87.59%, while Dharmapuri stood at 87.28%, completing the top five districts with the highest polling percentages.

Election officials clarified that voters who reached polling stations before 6 pm were issued tokens and allowed to cast their votes.

Polling continued beyond closing time in some booths to ensure that every token holder could vote, with the process lasting until the last person in the queue exercised their franchise.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were sealed following the completion of polling across Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

Officials secured the machines in the presence of polling agents before transporting them to strong rooms under tight security.

Polling stations across Tamil Nadu were shut at 6 pm, marking the end of voting for the Assembly elections.

Officials said no new voters will be allowed inside after the deadline, and only those already present within polling booths will be permitted to cast their votes.

Voter turnout in Tamil Nadu saw a steady rise through the day, reaching 17.69% at 9 am and climbing to 39.56% by 11 am.

The polling percentage increased further to 56.81% at 1 pm and touched 70% by 3 pm. By 5 pm, turnout stood at an impressive 82.24%, indicating strong participation across the State.

In a historic milestone, over 4.71 crore voters out of the total 5.73 crore people have voted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, marking one of the highest turnouts in the State’s history till 5 pm.

Officials said the strong participation reflects heightened voter enthusiasm and awareness across Tamil Nadu.

With turnout surging to 82.24% by 5 pm, the 2026 polls have already blown past the 2021 final figure of 73.63%.

The Election Commission of India has urged voters in Chennai to cast their votes before 6 pm.

Officials said polling stations will close sharply at 6 pm, and only those already inside the premises by then will be allowed to vote.

AIADMK candidate from Royapuram, D Jayakumar, and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar cast their votes at a polling station in Chennai.

Both leaders later showed their ink-marked fingers, urging the public to participate in the democratic process as polling continued.

Film director Shankar arrived with his daughter to cast his vote at a polling station along ECR in Chennai.

Given the number of absentee voters who were removed from electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) recently, it was a given that the polling percentage in Tamil Nadu would go up in this Assembly election. But even after factoring in the low-base effect, the polling has been vigorous on Thursday (April 23).

As of 3 pm on Thursday, 70 per cent of the 5.73 crore electors across Tamil Nadu have already cast their vote. To put this spike in perspective, it may be noted that the polling percentage around the same time in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election was only 53.55% - a jump of 16.45 percentage points. In fact, at this pace, turnout is fast approaching the final figure of 73.63% recorded in the 2021 polls.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Kani tribal communities living in remote hill areas of Kanniyakumari district turned out enthusiastically to vote, crossing the Pechiparai dam by boat to reach polling stations.

With no road connectivity due to the water-filled dam, voters from several hill hamlets depend entirely on boats during elections. The district administration operated three special boats and provided life jackets to ensure safe transport.

Despite logistical challenges, people travelled from the hills and exercised their franchise, reflecting strong commitment to the democratic process.

Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK candidate from Kurinjipadi constituency, MRK Panneerselvam, cast his vote in Cuddalore district on Thursday.

He later showed his ink-marked finger, urging voters to actively participate in the democratic process as polling continued across the State.

Two villages in Ettayapuram, Kulathuvaipatti and Kumaragiri in Thoothukudi district, boycotted the Assembly elections on Thursday over a long-standing pathway dispute.

Villagers have been demanding access to a route passing through a Sri Lankan refugee camp to reach their agricultural lands. With no resolution despite years of protests and a recent clash, they stayed away from voting. Officials said only five votes were cast out of 983 at the concerned polling booth by mid-day.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Vaiko on Thursday expressed confidence that the DMK-led alliance will form the government in Tamil Nadu with a clear majority.

He said the alliance is expected to win over 200 seats and return to power.

--Thanthi TV

 Senior DMK leader and party MP Kanimozhi on Thursday expressed confidence that her party would return to power in Tamil Nadu, as polling for elections to 234 assembly segments was on across the state.
Speaking to the reporters after casting her vote here, she said "people will take the right decision and DMK regime will continue".

Stating that "truth" will emerge after the counting of votes on May 4, Kanimozhi highlighted the DMK's performance over five years and its commitment to protect the state, language and culture.

She also urged the people of Tamil Nadu to carefully consider who has the capability to protect the state before casting their votes in the election.
To a question, she said "history will surely repeat," in an apparent reference to the DMK repeating its 2021 poll show.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday expressed confidence that DMK will emerge victorious in the Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters after exercising his franchise here, the DMK youth wing secretary urged people to come and vote. To a question on how confident he was about his party winning the elections, he said, "I am very confident."

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday exuded confidence that his party would return to power. Speaking to reporters after exercising his franchise in Siluvampalayam in the district, the AIADMK general secretary said people should turn up in large numbers and fulfill their democratic obligation today.

A first-time voter in Alandur’s constituency (Kolapakkam) alleged that his vote had already been cast by someone else when he arrived at a polling booth on Thursday.

The voter, who came with valid ID to a booth at a government school, was reportedly told that a signature had already been made in his name and reflected like his own signature. Despite raising the issue with officials and waiting for a resolution, he left without being able to vote, expressing distress over the incident.

--Thanthi TV

Newlywed couples cast their votes in Madurantakam near Chengalpattu on Thursday, arriving at polling booths in full wedding attire.

One couple, married earlier in the day, came straight from their marriage ceremony to vote at a booth in Kendiracheri. Similarly, another couple from Thandarai Puzhcheri also exercised their franchise soon after their wedding, highlighting the importance of voting.

Seeman shared a cordial moment with his opponent, TVK candidate T.K. Prabhu, at a polling booth during voting on Thursday.

The two leaders were seen hugging each other, drawing attention amid polling, in a gesture of mutual respect despite electoral rivalry.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “Every election is important, not just this one,” urging people to participate in the democratic process.

Kanniyakumari recorded the lowest voter turnout at 61.96% till 3 pm, followed by Tirunelveli at 62.84% and Ramanathapuram at 63.14%.

The Nilgiris saw 63.67% polling, while Sivaganga reported 64.74%, placing them among the districts with comparatively lower turnout.

--Thanthi TV

Namakkal recorded the highest voter turnout at 76.43% till 3 pm, followed by Karur at 76.08% and Salem at 75.79%.

Erode registered 75.61%, while Tiruppur reported 75.38%, rounding off the top five districts with strong polling percentages.

-- Thanthi TV

TVK’s Villivakkam candidate and General Secretary of Campaign Management, Aadhav Arjuna, on Thursday alleged poor planning by the State Transport Department, claiming inadequate bus services despite heavy voter inflow into the city.

He said a complaint has been filed against senior officials, including IAS officers, and sought their suspension along with a departmental inquiry. Arjuna further alleged that transport services were being curtailed under pressure, affecting voter turnout, particularly among women and youth.

Tamil Nadu recorded around 70% voter turnout till 3 pm as polling progressed across the State.

In Chennai, the turnout stood at 68.13% at the same time, with steady voter participation reported despite the heat.

The Director General of Police (DGP), Tamil Nadu, has issued strict instructions prohibiting police personnel from entering polling stations during elections unless explicitly permitted by the Presiding Officer.

According to an official communication dated on Thursday instances have been reported where police officers entered polling stations, an act deemed impermissible and contrary to existing election guidelines.

According to a Maalaimalar report, as of 1 PM, most districts recorded voter turnout between 55% and 60%. Tirupur (62.97%), Namakkal (62.51%), and Salem (61.42%) are among the top-performing districts in voter turnout.

Chennai – 54.58%

Coimbatore – 58.24%

Madurai – 54.75%

Tiruchy– 57.66%

Ariyalur – 55.18%

Chengalpattu – 56.28%

Cuddalore – 55.13%

Dharmapuri – 59.02%

Dindigul – 59.79%

Erode – 61.79%

Kallakurichi – 57.15%

Kancheepuram – 58.98%

Kanniyakumari – 50.35%

Karur – 60.77%

Krishnagiri – 56.21%

Mayiladuthurai – 53.59%

Nagapattinam – 57.07%

Namakkal – 62.51%

Perambalur – 57.55%

Pudukkottai – 56.78%

Ramanathapuram – 51.54%

Ranipet – 58.62%

Salem – 61.42%

Sivagangai – 53.50%

Tenkasi – 54.24%

Thanjavur – 54.83%

Nilgiris – 50.42%

Theni – 55.63%

Tiruvallur – 55.45%

Tiruvarur – 56%

Thoothukudi – 52.55%

Tirunelveli – 50.73%

Tirupattur – 57.42%

Tirupur – 62.97%

Tiruvannamalai – 58.23%

Vellore – 57.49%

Villupuram – 58.23%

Virudhunagar – 57.27%

In Chennai , during the 2021 Assembly election, the voter turnout as of 1 PM was 37.16%-point.

In the ongoing 2026 Assembly election, the voter turnout as of 1 PM has increased significantly to 54.58%-point.

2016: 42.10% – 2.45 crore votes
2019: 39.49% – 2.36 crore votes
2021: 39.61% – 2.48 crore votes
2024: 39.51% – 2.46 crore votes
2026: 56.81% – 3.25 crore votes (as of 1 PM)

As of 1 PM, 2026 shows a sharp rise in turnout, with nearly 17% - point higher voting compared to previous elections at the same time.

As of 1 PM, a total of 56.81% of votes have been recorded across Tamil Nadu. In the previous 2021 election, only 39.61% of votes were recorded. (Difference 16 percentage points)

Residents of Vengaivayal village in Pudukottai district have boycotted the election, alleging that justice has not been delivered in the case of human faeces being mixed in a drinking water tank. Members of the Scheduled Caste community boycotted the polls, leaving polling stations deserted.

Actor Suriya arrived at a polling station in Thyagaraya Nagar, Chennai, along with his wife and actor Jyothika and exercised his democratic right.

Actor Siddharth cast his vote at St Francis Xavier school, Alwarpet

Those who understand at least the basics of Tamil Nadu politics know that the black and red combo indicates support for the ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin; add a white border to it to proclaim allegiance to the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK; red stands for Communists; blue for Thol Thirumavalavan’s VCK; red-black-red for Vaiko’s MDMK; saffron for BJP; yellow and green for PMK, etc.

In this crowded colour-coded world came Vijay with his TVK, which opted for a red-yellow-red colour scheme.

If we are to believe those claiming to read the electoral tea leaves, there is a proliferation of people wearing white shirts and beige/khaki pants at polling booths across Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. They are also spotted in Metro Rail coaches, on taxi cabs, and on the roads. And these are not just common public but celebrities as well, including Sibi Sathyaraj (a vocal proponent of Vijay-as-CM) to Vikram (who stays clear of politics), and even Pa Ranjith (who never made his politics a secret).

But are all these non-verbal proclamations of support for Vijay? Claiming that would be making a sweeping statement, as some have pointed out that the same combo was picked by political leaders who do not favour Vijay in any way.

This includes DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin, BJP leader K Annamalai, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss — whose party, an NDA ally, has virulently opposed actors entering politics, and DMDK leader L.K. Sudhish, whose party is now in the DMK-led coalition — they all wore the same colours while heading to the polling booth today.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan and his daughter Shruti Haasan cast their votes earlier at Chennai High School, Eldams Road, Teynampet, during the Tamil Nadu Assembly election on April 23.

Composer-singer Anirudh cast his vote early at St Francis Xavier Middle School at Alwarpet, Chennai, in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election on April 23.

Actor Vikram cast his vote at a polling booth in Besant Nagar during the Tamil Nadu Assembly election on April 23. His son Dhruv too was seen casting his vote.

Susila (42) from Saligramam came with an oxygen cylinder support at the Kaveri School there to cast her vote.

As tensions escalated between the two groups, police personnel stationed at the booth intervened and urged everyone to disperse and maintain order, ensuring that the voting process continued peacefully.

According to a person from Chengalpattu, whose relatives were heading to their hometown to vote, the bus they had booked their tickets on was supposed to reach Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus in Kilambakkam by 9.30 pm on Wednesday. They left for the bus terminus on two-wheelers to avoid getting stuck in traffic. But even that did not help. Finally, they walked to the terminus, along with a large number of people who had the same idea.

When they finally reached there, however, the bus was nowhere close. The bus that was coming from Koyambedu in the heart of Chennai was caught in traffic jams along the way, literally crawling every inch like thousands of others on the road. “It was 3.30 am by the time it reached,” he said.

READ STORY HERE

Voters wearing white shirt and khakhi pants at polling booths.

In Nanguneri’s Perumpathu village in Tirunelveli district, voters at Polling Station No. 290 have reportedly boycotted the election.

All 969 registered voters have not turned up to cast their votes, even after four hours of polling, leaving the booth deserted, said a Daily Thanthi report.

Residents are said to be protesting by staying at home, citing lack of justice in connection with a double murder incident that occurred on March 2. The situation has led to a complete voter abstention at the station, according to reports. READ STORY HERE

Actor Arjun, along with wife Niveditha, cast his vote at St Francis Xavier School, Alwarpet.

Tiruvallur – 17.22%

Kanyakumari – 17.08%

Thanjavur – 17.05%

Early morning voting shows a steady turnout across key districts, said a Thanthi TV report.

Actor Trisha, along with her mother, cast her vote at St. Francis Xavier School in Alwarpet, Chennai.

Music composer Ilaiyaraaja cast his vote in T Nagar, Chennai.

At the St Francis Xavier School polling station in Alwarpet under the Mylapore Assembly constituency in Chennai, a heated argument broke out between BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan and DMK workers.

The dispute reportedly began when Tamilisai Soundararajan alleged that some individuals were casting votes without proper identification cards. DMK polling agents objected to the claim, leading to a sharp exchange between both sides inside the polling premises.

As tensions escalated between the two groups, police personnel stationed at the booth intervened and urged everyone to disperse and maintain order, ensuring that the voting process continued peacefully.

"They are neither voters nor party agents. These individuals displayed DMK symbol and Chief Minister M K Stalin's photos on their phones. If they think they can get votes by unleashing anarchy, then they will not succeed. Stalin should not think of getting votes by crushing our voice. People are aware of the DMK's rowdyism. We cannot accept it," Soundararajan told reporters and added that there was sufficient proof to substantiate her claims.

DMK MP Kanimozhi casted her vote at St. Ebba's school at Radhakrishnan Road.

TVK Chief Vijay urges ECI to extend voting time by 2 hours amid bus stand congestion; calls for emergency transport to ease crowding and ensure smooth polling and democratic access.

READ STORY HERE

Actor politician Vijay casts vote in Neelankarai

Vijay, TVK chief and candidate from Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur constituencies, cast his vote at a booth in Neelankarai under the Shollinganallur Assembly segment, in Chennai.

CPM state secretary P Shanmugam cast his vote at a polling station situated at Koil Pathagai Primary School in Avadi.

2021 Election – Polling Percentage (Hourly)

9:00 AM – 13.8%

12:00 PM – 34.21%

2:00 PM – 46.36%

3:00 PM – 53.55%

7:00 PM (Final) – 73.63%

Kongu region records higher early turnout; Chennai, southern districts lag

The Kongu belt registered a stronger voter turnout in the first two hours of polling on Thursday, outpacing several other parts of the State.

Districts in the region reported relatively higher percentages, with Tiruppur recording 20.38%, Salem 19.46%, Namakkal 19.83% and Erode 19.55% within the initial hours after polling began.

In contrast, Chennai and parts of southern Tamil Nadu reported comparatively lower turnout. Chennai recorded 16.51%, while southern districts such as Thoothukudi (16.63%), Sivaganga (16.18%) and Ramanathapuram (15.54%) lagged behind.

Veteran actor Prabhu Ganesan cast his vote along with his family in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Sivakarthikeyan cast his vote along with his wife at the Good Shepherd School polling booth in Valasaravakkam, Chennai.

Passengers bound for southern districts were the worst affected, with many unable to find buses from key terminals including Kilambakkam, Koyambedu and Madhavaram. Some even staged sit-in protests inside bus stands late at night as they struggled to secure transport.

READ STORY HERE

Actor Dhanush cast his vote at St Xavier school, Alwarpet

R Sarathkumar and Radhika Sarathkumar cast their votes at Kottivakkam.

DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth cast her vote with her family in Saligramam.

DMK president MK Stalin cast his vote along with his family at a Greater Chennai Corporation school polling booth on Chittaranjan Road in Teynampet.

'Tamil Nadu will win’: CM MK Stalin after casting vote

Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Thursday said “Tamil Nadu will win” after casting his vote in the Assembly election, urging people to exercise their franchise.

Stalin cast his vote at a polling station set up at SIET College in Alwarpet, which falls under the Mylapore constituency.

“I can say only one thing — Tamil Nadu will win,” he told reporters, appealing to all eligible voters to come out and vote.

Following him, his wife Durga Stalin, son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, daughter-in-law Kirthika Udhayanidhi, and grandson Inbanithi Stalin also cast their votes.

Rajinikanth cast his vote at the Stella Maris College polling booth in Chennai’s Thousand Lights constituency.

TVK chief Vijay cast his vote at a Greater Chennai Corporation school polling booth in Neelankarai.

Visit our interactive election special page to check out candidates in the fray across all 234 constituencies, past winners from each seat, and more

CLICK HERE: https://election.dailythanthi.com/

A robot dressed in a traditional 'pattu pavadhai' welcomes voters in Coimbatore.

Voting for the Assembly election has begun, but technical issues with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been reported at several polling booths. Due to these malfunctions, the start of voting has been delayed in multiple centres.

AIADMK's general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami cast his vote along with his family at the polling booth in Siluvampalayam Panchayat Union Primary School in Salem.

PM Narendra Modi urged voters to ensure a record turnout. In a post on X, he appealed to all citizens to enthusiastically fulfill this sacred democratic duty. He especially called upon the youth and women of Tamil Nadu to come out in large numbers and contribute to achieving a record level of voting.

Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru waits as VVPAT malfunctions in Tiruchy's Thillai Nagar.

Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman cast his vote in Neelankarai along with his wife. Meanwhile, BJP State vice-president Khushbu Sundar and filmmaker-actor Sundar C also cast their votes.

Actor Ajith Kumar was reportedly the first person to cast his vote in Tamil Nadu. Considering security reasons, officials allowed him to vote early. He arrived at the polling booth dressed in a white suit.

After voting, he showed the indelible ink mark on his finger. A large number of fans had gathered to see him, and police were deployed to control the crowd.

Voting begins at 7 am for Tamil Nadu polls.

Over 5.73 crore voters will decide the electoral fate of 4,023 candidates in fray for the crucial Tamil Nadu Assembly election on April 23.

Both the Dravidian majors - the DMK heading the SPA and the AIADMK leading the NDA in the state are pitted against each other in the high-stakes poll contest with the DMK making a frantic bid to retain power while the AIADMK is making hectic attempts to return to power after being in the opposition for five years.

Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin has assured that he would transform Tamil Nadu into a model state in South Asia while AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami appealed to the first-generation voters not to choose the wrong person.

TVK founder Vijay, who is contesting from Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies in his electoral debut, took a swipe at Palaniswami wondering if the former Chief Minister could contest and win from any constituency outside his home district of Salem.

The DMK is facing heat from the Opposition for allegedly shelving the previous AIADMK government’s flagship ‘Thalikku Thangam’ (gold for marriage) scheme and rejecting calls for a coalition. This criticism carries weight when viewed against the party’s own history, specifically its advocacy for the gold scheme and coalition arrangements while in the Opposition during the 1980s.

Allying with the Congress, then DMK president M Karunanidhi stated that a coalition government would implement welfare schemes with Union government support. With gold prices hitting around Rs 1,000 per sovereign, the DMK proposed the 'Thalikku Thangam' scheme to provide gold or subsidies for marriages, ensuring women did not have to mortgage their thali chains.

READ STORY HERE

Returning officers across constituencies have received a high volume of nominations, reflecting the increasingly fragmented political landscape.

The shift began in 2006, when actor-turned-politician Vijayakant's DMDK entered the fray, transforming Tamil Nadu's largely bipolar contests into multi-cornered battles. In 2006, 3,902 nominations were filed, with 2,586 candidates contesting. It was a big jump from the 2001 Assembly election, when 2,829 nominations were filed, and 1,860 candidates were in the fray.

The 2016 Assembly election saw a six-cornered contest involving the DMK, AIADMK, People's Welfare Front, BJP-led NDA, PMK and Naam Tamilar Katchi, resulting in 5,901 nominations and 3,776 candidates.

READ STORY HERE

Women voters outnumber men in 214 of the 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu, and political parties have not spared any effort to garner their support, ranging from home appliances to monthly doles – one more than the other.

However, this care and attention do not seem to extend to actual empowerment by ensuring electoral representation, as 46 seats do not have a single woman candidate in the fray.

46 constituencies have no women candidates, while 63 have only one woman candidate each. Around 60 constituencies have just two women candidates. 

READ STORY HERE

Election Commission of India (ECI) data indicates that removing duplicate, deceased and non-existent voters through SIR have resulted in improved polling percentages.

For instance, following SIR exercises in 2002 and 2005, about 8.75 lakh names were deleted from the rolls. While the electorate reduced to 4.66 crore from 4.74 crore in 2001, voter turnout saw a sharp rise. The turnout was 59.07 per cent in the 2001 Assembly election, prior to the revision, but jumped to 70.82 per cent in 2006 after the rolls were updated.

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Hitting out at actor-politician Vijay's unilateral decision-making style, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary MA Baby warned that it sends the wrong signals to the democratic process. The "Führer type" leadership style is ominous, he said, adding that it remained unclear whether crowds would translate into votes.

It's ironic that the new entrant TVK, promising political change, doesn't spell out a comprehensive political or economic agenda, he said. The CPM leader also defended the party's decision to accept a reduced share in the DMK-led alliance, saying that seat compromises were necessary to preserve unity.

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From Kolathur to Gobichettipalayam, the DT Next team visited several key constituencies ahead of the polls to understand the unique local issues that are shaping the voter sentiment and examine the voting patterns of residents over the years.

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Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai said he was ‘pro-DMK’ and expressed confidence that Congress would win more than 25 of the 28 seats it is contesting in the Assembly elections, as part of the Secular Progressive Alliance. In an interview with DT Next, Selvaperunthagai, who is contesting again from the Sriperumbudur constituency, defended the alliance as ideological, dismissed dissent within the party, and said there was no rift between alliance leaders.

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In an interview with DT Next, DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin said all welfare measures promised in the DMK’s manifesto for the upcoming Assembly election, including the proposed Rs 8,000 household coupon scheme, were announced only after proper financial consultation, assuring that all schemes would be implemented once the party retains power.

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