Tamil Nadu Assembly election 2026: a game of four Premium

Explore Tamil Nadu's upcoming four-cornered election contest, featuring key players DMK, AIADMK, TVK, and Naam Tamizhar Katchi.

With the filing of nominations set to begin in about 10 days, the political theatre in Tamil Nadu is all set to have yet another show of lively, even acrimonious performances from different actors. This time the show may be, in certain respects, different from the previous ones, in view of reports of voters among Gen Z feeling left out by established political forces — the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Will the presence of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), headed by popular actor Vijay, cause a disruption, and at what level?

As on date, the coalitions led by the DMK and the AIADMK — the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) respectively — have not yet finalised the seat-sharing process. The DMK, which has entered into electoral pacts with the Congress (for 28 seats); the Communist Party of India (CPI – five seats); the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (four seats); and the Indian Union Muslim League, the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and the Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (two seats each), has not yet firmed up the deal with the CPI (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). In addition to this, there are other small parties in the DMK’s fold. A prominent feature of the seat allocation exercise being carried out by the ruling party is that barring the Congress, the share of other parties has been cut down, an aspect that has not been relished by the allies. Yet, those allies which have arrived at an understanding with the Dravidian major have done it because they do not want to rock the boat, in their political battle with the NDA, especially the BJP. Meanwhile, the DMK has been holding interviews with ticket aspirants. Former Chief Minister and coordinator of the AIADMK, O. Panneerselvam, and his son, former Theni MP P. Ravindhranath, who defected to the DMK last month, are among aspirants.

Till the seat-sharing negotiations began about a month ago, the SPA was a picture of cohesion. In the last five years, all the major agitations, organised by the DMK against the BJP-led regime at the Centre, saw enthusiastic participation by the constituents of the alliance. But, in the last one month or so, fault lines came to the fore as the DMK pushed the idea of the allies having to give up one or two seats of theirs for the purpose of accommodating parties such as the MNM and the DMDK, both of which were in other formations during the 2021 Assembly polls.

The TVK’s offer of share in power, made by Mr. Vijay at the party’s inaugural conference in Vikravandi, about 150 km south of Chennai, was too tempting for the Congress to resist, as the national party had lost power in the State nearly 60 years ago. Eventually, thanks to the realisation of the Congress high command about the futility of going along with the recent entrant, and perseverance of the DMK leadership, the alliance between the two survived the test. The national party got three seats more than during the last Assembly election. Also, it was provided with a berth in the Rajya Sabha. The CPI(M) and the VCK, allies of the DMK nearly for 10 years at a stretch, have been seeking a higher share than in the past, and this is reportedly delaying the finalisation of the seat-sharing process.

As far as the AIADMK-led NDA is concerned, it has almost been one year since the Dravidian major and the BJP announced the revival of their ties. The two had contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha election on their own, having their respective fronts but the end result — all the 39 constituencies going in favour of the SPA — had forced the two to come together again. Over the months, there were dramatic turns such as the exit of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), headed by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, from the NDA in September 2025 and, four months later, its “homecoming.” Another open supporter of the BJP, Mr. Panneerselvam found himself in an awkward position owing to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s firm refusal to accommodate him. He did what he would not have imagined even 10 years ago — joining the AIADMK’s traditional adversary, the DMK. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), an ally of the BJP in the 2024 polls, has suffered a split with founder S. Ramadoss and his son and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss falling apart. Dr. Anbumani is now a constituent of the NDA. Other parties, including the Tamil Maanila  Congress (Moopanar), are expected to be accommodated in the NDA.

The front’s leader Mr. Palaniswami held two rounds of discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi in the last couple of weeks, apart from talks with Union Minister and the BJP’s point person for Tamil Nadu Piyush Goyal. As Mr. Palaniswami himself is involved in this process, he perhaps did not bother to constitute committees, including one for seat sharing, till March 15, the day in which the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for the State.