Early counting of votes from the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections showed actor-politician Vijay’s party, TVK, emerging as a major force. According to Election Commission updates, the party was leading in 109 out of 234 constituencies at one point during counting.
The DMK was trailing with leads in around 40 seats, while the AIADMK was ahead in 63 constituencies. TVK’s strong performance across regions, including Chennai and Kongu areas, has drawn widespread attention, reported PTI.
Big setbacks for ruling DMK leaders
The trends also indicated unexpected setbacks for the ruling DMK. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was reported to be trailing in Kolathur against TVK candidate V.S. Babu. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was also behind TVK’s D. Selvam in Chepauk-Thiruvalikeni.
Several senior ministers, including Duraimurugan, Thangam Thennarasu, TRB Rajaa, Ma Subramanian, P.K. Sekar Babu, E.V. Velu, K.N. Nehru, Getha Jeevan, and K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, were also reported to be trailing in their respective constituencies.
TVK makes strong gains across Tamil Nadu
TVK supremo Vijay was reported to be leading in constituencies such as Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur in Chennai. His party colleague Aadhav Arjuna was ahead in Villivakkam.
The party also performed strongly in several Chennai segments, many of which are considered traditional DMK strongholds. TVK was also leading in areas like Ponneri, Tiruvallur, Poonamallee, and Avadi.
Political shift or historic upset?
If TVK crosses the majority mark of 118 seats, it would mark a historic first in Tamil Nadu politics. Since 1967, power in the state has alternated mainly between the DMK and AIADMK.
Political observers noted that no party formed after such a short existence has ever come to power in Tamil Nadu. Even AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran, who became Chief Minister in 1977, had earlier spent decades in the DMK before forming his own party.
Vijay had earlier referred to the historic 1967 and 1977 political shifts in his campaign speeches, calling them turning points in Tamil Nadu politics.
Leads across regions, including AIADMK strongholds
TVK’s gains were not limited to one region and extended even to Kongu belt areas, considered AIADMK-BJP strongholds. Meanwhile, AIADMK was ahead in constituencies like Katpadi and Gudiyattam, with party leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami leading in Edappadi by over 10,000 votes.
The BJP was ahead in a few seats, including Thalli, Udhagamandalam, and Nagercoil, while the DMK led in constituencies such as Vellore, Anaikattu, and Rishivandiyam.
Exit polls proven wrong as trends surprise observers
The early results came as a surprise, as many exit polls had predicted an advantage for the DMK based on its welfare schemes and governance model over the past five years. However, the ongoing trends have contradicted those projections, showing a strong anti-incumbency wave.
As counting continues, TVK’s strong performance has raised the possibility of a major political shift in Tamil Nadu. If the current trends hold, it could mark the first time in decades that a party outside the DMK-AIADMK framework comes to power in the state.
As one observer noted during counting trends, “If this continues, it will change the political history of Tamil Nadu,” reported the news agency.
(With PTI Inputs)