How Tamil Nadu has been waiting for assembly election results for decades

The wait between voting and counting in an election is always a nerve-wracking time for politicians and voters. While the gap between polling (April 23) and counting (May 4) is only 10 days in the current Tamil Nadu Assembly election period, there have been instances where such a waiting period has been more than 30 days.

The Madras State Legislative Assembly elections of 1967, a watershed moment that rewrote the state’s political destiny when the DMK dethroned the Congress, took place after the delimitation exercise. The number of constituencies was expanded from 206 to 234. Elections were held in three phases on February 15, February 18 and February 21. However, only 233 mandates applied for the vote. Elections to the Thirumangalam constituency in Madurai were canceled due to the death of a candidate and were held on 29 April that year. Counting of the main stages began on February 23.

The 1971 assembly elections also lasted for three days. Voters headed to polling stations on March 1, March 4 and March 7, while counting began on March 10. DMK secured a massive majority and M Karunanidhi retained power. In June 1975, Indira Gandhi’s government declared emergency at the Center and the DMK government was dismissed in January of the following year.

In 1977, when the state went to the polls, the dynamic shifted. After being expelled from the DMK, actor MG Ramachandran (MGR) launched the ADMK (later renamed AIADMK) in 1972. For the first time in Tamil Nadu, all 234 constituencies voted on 12 June and counting ended on 14 June. MGR took over.

Despite the success of the one-day format, the state reverted to a two-phase contest for the 1980 elections, which were held after the recall of the MGR government. On May 28, 114 Assembly segments went to polls, while voters in 120 constituencies exercised their franchise on May 31. The results were declared on 1 June and MGR returned as Chief Minister.

The 1984 election, which broke with the tradition of pre-summer or summer polls established since 1967, was the first at the end of the year. After MGR’s hospitalization, his cabinet decided on early elections. At the same time, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi asked for a new mandate at the center after the assassination of his mother and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

A total of 232 seats went to the polls on 24 December. The polls in Egmore (SC) and Perambur (SC – now a general seat) were contested due to the deaths of candidates and were finally held on the following 28 January. The results for 232 assembly segments were declared on December 28, in which the AIADMK secured its third consecutive victory.

In 1989, the state was thrown into political chaos. MGR’s death in 1987 led to his widow Janaki Ramachandran and protégé J. Jayalalitha leading factions of the AIADMK. Out of 234 segments, 232 voted on January 21. The elections in Marungapuri and Madurai East were postponed to March 11 due to the deaths of candidates.

The counting for 232 constituencies was held on January 22 and the DMK returned to power after 13 years.

No election in Tamil Nadu has a more tragic history than 1991. The state was scheduled to vote on May 26. However, on the night of May 21, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Sriperumbudur. The Election Commission postponed the polls in Tamil Nadu to June 15. Apart from Egmore (SC) and Mussuri, 232 segments applied for voting and the results were declared on June 16. The AIADMK-Congress alliance swept the polls and Jayalalitha became the Chief Minister for the first time.

The 1996 Assembly elections were the last in the state where ballot papers were used. Elections were held in 150 constituencies on April 27 and in 83 mandates on May 2.

The results were declared on May 8 and the DMK-TMC alliance secured a landslide victory. Voting in Modakurichi was only held on June 1 as 1,033 candidates submitted their nominations, making it difficult to print ballot papers.

For the first time in Tamil Nadu’s history, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were deployed in all 234 Assembly segments in the 2001 Assembly elections, mirroring the simultaneous rollout in Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal. The state went to polls on May 10 in a single phase and the results were declared on May 13. AIADMK returned to power.

The 2006 Assembly elections were held in the state on May 8, when all 234 Assembly constituencies went to polls. The results were announced on 11 May and Karunanidhi formed a government with outside support from allies.

The longest gap between voting and counting in the state’s election history was in 2011. The election was held on 13 April. With the Election Commission coordinating plans for multiple states, voters had to wait until May 13 to see Jayalalithaa get elected. Notably, the DMDK led by actor Vijayakanth, whose party merged with the AIADMK, came second.

The 2016 assembly elections were a multi-cornered fight with the AIADMK fielding candidates on its symbol in all 234 seats. A total of 232 seats went to the polls on 16 May and when the votes were counted on 19 May, Jayalalithaa retained power. Voting for Aravakurichi and Thanjavur, where elections were postponed for the first time due to widespread voter bribery, was held only on 19 November.

The 2021 assembly elections took place in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters exercised their right to vote amid mandatory security protocols and extended polling hours. Despite these obstacles, the state recorded a 73.63% voter turnout on April 6. However, people waited for almost 26 days as the census was held only on May 2. These elections were symbolic, being the first since the deaths of political stalwarts Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi. The DMK alone won 133 seats while the DMK Front won 159 seats. DMK president MK Stalin became the chief minister.

Published – 29 Apr 2026 06:06 IST