Vijay’s TVK Stuns Tamil Nadu, Crosses 100 Seats in Early Trends
Actor turned politician Vijay surges ahead as Chief Minister M K Stalin trails in his own seat
In a dramatic and unexpected turn in Tamil Nadu politics, actor turned politician Vijay has emerged as the frontrunner in the 2026 Assembly elections. Early counting trends show his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, taking a commanding lead in more than 100 constituencies.
Vote counting began on Monday morning across all 234 seats, and within hours, TVK surged ahead, surprising political observers. According to the latest figures, the party is leading in around 105 seats, closing in on the majority mark of 118.
The results have dealt a major blow to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies. Chief Minister M K Stalin, who has represented the Kolathur seat since 2011, is trailing behind TVK candidate V S Babu.
In and around Chennai, long considered a stronghold of the DMK, TVK appears to be making sweeping gains. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is also facing a tough contest and is reportedly behind after several rounds of counting.
Meanwhile, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance is in second place with leads in around 68 seats, while the DMK alliance is trailing with about 54.
Political analysts believe this election could mark a turning point in the state’s politics, which has long been dominated by the DMK and AIADMK. Vijay’s popularity and a growing demand for change appear to have reshaped voter sentiment, defying most exit poll predictions. Only a few surveys had hinted at a strong performance by TVK.
Vijay himself is leading comfortably in both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies.
The elections, held on April 23, recorded a voter turnout of 85.1 percent, one of the highest in the state’s history. Celebrations have already begun among TVK supporters in Chennai and other parts of the state.
Party leaders say voters have chosen a new direction, expressing fatigue with traditional politics and opting for what they describe as a cleaner and more transparent leadership. If these trends hold, Vijay could be on course to become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.