TVK president Vijay managed to consolidate the majority of votes against the incumbent, even over the edge of the AIADMK, the main opposition party so far | Photo credit: M. Periasamy
In a historic departure from Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu, the state voted overwhelmingly in favor of a political newcomer: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) actor C. Joseph Vijay. At 1:15 PM, TVK was leading with 110 seats, AIADMK was leading with 57 seats and DMK was trailing with 48 seats.
The performance through midday is indicative of a big anti-incumbency factor, a sentiment in the room that many psephologists and analysts failed to read. It is likely that at the end of the day, the political scene in Tamil Nadu will change fundamentally and a third party will emerge as a significant source of power.
Published – May 4, 2026 2:09 PM IST
