CHENNAI: In a dramatic turn of events during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, C. Joseph Vijay's newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is leading in 104 out of 234 constituencies as vote counting progresses. As of 12:50 a.m. on Monday (May 4, 2026), the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has secured leads in 68 seats, while the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies trail with 54 seats.

Vijay, the leading candidate and a popular actor, is demonstrating strong performance in both Perambur and Tiruchi East, the constituencies he contested. Remarkably, DMK president M.K. Stalin, who has represented Kolathur since 2011, is currently trailing behind TVK's candidate V.S. Babu, a former DMK legislator. This unexpected development raises substantial concerns about Stalin's political standing and the future of his party.

The elections were held on April 23, with a remarkable voter turnout of 85.1% translating to 4.8 crore votes cast. The counting of votes from approximately 75,064 polling stations is being conducted at 62 designated centers across the state. Security measures have been heighted, with around 125,000 personnel deployed and mandatory photo identification cards for observers and officials.

This election cycle has turned into a fiercely competitive three-way race involving the incumbent DMK, AIADMK, and the newcomer TVK. While exit polls favored a DMK advantage, showing predictions of 92-110 seats for them versus TVK's projected 98-120 seats, the current outcomes suggest a potential reshuffling of Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

Notably, DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant is currently leading by 1,732 votes in the Vriddhachalam constituency at the end of the tenth counting round. In Cuddalore district, the AIADMK is showing leads in multiple constituencies while TVK claims victories in Cuddalore itself. The implications of these results will be closely monitored as they unfold, reflecting voter sentiment across Tamil Nadu.