Tamil Nadu’s long-standing bipolar political landscape, dominated for over half a century by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), faced a dramatic disruption on Monday (May 4, 2026) as votes polled in the Assembly elections were counted. Actor-turned-politician Vijay (C. Joseph Vijay), leading his two-year-old party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), surged ahead with early leads in over 100 of the State’s 234 Assembly constituencies.

While the AIADMK held second position with a steady performance, the ruling DMK suffered a significant setback, slipping to third place. Several of its senior leaders, including Chief Minister M.K. Stalin (Kolathur), were trailing in their respective constituencies.