Tamil Nadu Elections

EC orders probe into voting by foreigners in TN polls, 10 held in Chennai

The Election Commission has ordered a probe into the allegations of foreign nationals "deceitfully" voting in the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, an official said on Saturday. The EC's action follows a report submitted by the police recently after they arrested ten foreign nationals who attempted to board a flight. The airport officials became suspicious when they noticed indelible ink on their index fingers and alerted the police. The Chennai police said ten foreign nationals were arrested in nine cases for allegedly casting votes in the Tamil Nadu 2026 Assembly polls. They were detained at the Chennai and Madurai airports. Police enquiry revealed that these nationals were from Sri Lanka, the UK and Canada. "They had used fraudulent Indian ID documents to cast the votes. The indelible ink was noticed on their fingers when they attempted to fly out," the police official said. The police Central Crime Branch registered cases and is probing, the official said and added that as

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay announces 2% DA hike for govt employees, teachers

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday announced a 2 per cent hike in Dearness Allowances for government employees and teachers. With the revision, the Dearness Allowance (DA) was increased from 58 per cent to 60 per cent, effective from January 1, 2026, an official release said. The DA hike will result in an additional annual expenditure of Rs 1,230 crore for the state government. The release said the government would allocate the required additional funds, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of government officials, teachers, pensioners, and family pensioners. The release further said that Vijay has pledged to take measures to formulate and implement various welfare schemes for the people. It added that government officials and teachers play a pivotal role in designing various schemes and implementing them successfully.

'Vaathi coming': How Thalapathy Vijay flipped the political script in Tamil Nadu elections

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is shaking up Tamil Nadu’s 2026 election. From bold promises to a carefully crafted outsider image, here’s how he positioned himself and why voters are responding.

Shanmugam-led AIADMK faction backs Vijay-led TVK govt in Tamil Nadu

AIADMK faction led by senior MLAs S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam on Tuesday said that they have decided to support the TVK government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Speaking to reporters, Shanmugam said they would be meeting CM Vijay this afternoon to provide a letter supporting his government. He also alleged that party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami wanted to form a government with the support of DMK. "We opposed his (Palaniswami) decision, since AIADMK was formed only to defeat DMK," he added. Shanmugam also demanded that Palaniswami should immediately convene the party's general council meeting. AIADMK won 47 seats in the recently held Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

How governors decide who gets first shot at power in hung Assemblies

'Delay' in inviting Vijay to form govt in Tamil Nadu reignites debate, Bhavini Mishra explains

After elections, new Cabinets confront mounting debt and fiscal pressures

New governments across states which underwent Assembly polls face a debt question as they try to deliver on their promises

Vijay's rise from 'Thalapathy' of cinema to Tamil Nadu's 'Muthalvan'

When Vijay repeatedly asserted that the 2026 Assembly polls was a fight between his party, the TVK and the ruling DMK, many did not buy that argument. Not only on this point, but on several other aspects, TVK and Vijay differed from "mainstream" political parties and their conventional ways to seek votes. Vijay neither introduced candidates in all the constituencies nor toured all segments or vigorously campaigned in the traditional sense by addressing rallies. But his messages were forwarded again and again in social media and by word of mouth by his fans and followers. He neither met the press nor gave interviews and directly communicated to people via social media. Unusually, he focused on teens, youngsters/children to persuade their parents to vote for TVK. When polling crossed 85 per cent, Vijay, addressed himself as "Vijay Mama" (Vijay uncle) specially thanked "Kutti, Nanba, Nanbees" (little children) for guiding their families. Also, he brilliantly combined elements of ...

Vijay sworn-in as Tamil Nadu CM, takes oath along with 9-member Cabinet

The swearing-in at Chennai's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium marked TVK's first government in Tamil Nadu and a break from DMK-AIADMK dominance

Vijay to become next Tamil Nadu CM as VCK backs TVK, oath on Sunday

Ending days of political suspense in Tamil Nadu, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on Saturday extended unconditional support to Vijay-led TVK to form the government in the state

Tamil Nadu govt formation suspense deepens as VCK delays support call

The uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu may clear by Saturday evening when VCK, a long time ally of the Left parties, is expected to spell out its stand on the crucial question of extending support to TVK to form government. The Vijay-led party faced serious allegations when NDA constituent AMMK accused it of alleged bid aimed at horse-trading. MLAs belonging to Congress, which has extended support to the TVK, have shifted to Hyderabad. After the Left parties declared unconditional support to TVK to form the government asserting it was to prevent BJP's backdoor entry through Governor and to respect the people's mandate, VCK founder chief Thol Thirumavalavan immediately went into a huddle with his party office-bearers through video-conferencing on Friday. While it was expected that the VCK would announce its stand on Saturday morning, the party has said the decision shall be made known by Thirumavalavan at 4 PM, setting the political circles abuzz over. In a return o

TN Cong MLAs shift to Hyderabad as TVK seeks numbers to form govt

With uncertainty continuing over government formation in Tamil Nadu, five Congress MLAs from the state were camping in Hyderabad on Saturday in an apparent move by the party to prevent any poaching attempts. Congress MLA P Viswanathan from Melur, who was formerly the AICC in-charge of party affairs in Telangana, was leading the group of five MLAs during their stay in Hyderabad, party sources said. The Congress has already declared its support for TVK, and Viswanathan is likely to become a minister if a TVK government is formed, the sources added. Actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which won 108 seats-10 short of a majority-had earlier reached out to the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and VCK parties that had been allied with the DMK, seeking their support to form the government after emerging as the single largest party in its maiden Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, held on April 23. The VCK, a long-time ally of the Left parties, is expected to formally announce its support for the

AMMK chief files complaint against Vijay's TVK over 'forged' support letter

The AMMK has lodged a complaint with the Guindy police against the TVK, alleging the use of a "forged" support letter to stake claim for government formation, police said on Saturday.According to Guindy police, a petition has been received from AMMK General Secretary T T V Dhinakaran. However, officials confirmed that no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in the matter as of Saturday morning. The development followed a high-drama midnight visit by Dhinakaran to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Guindy Range. Speaking to reporters, the AMMK chief accused the Vijay-led TVK of submitting a forged photocopy of a letter to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, falsely claiming the support of AMMK's lone MLA-elect from Mannargudi, S Kamaraj. "The TVK, which claims to be a 'pure force,' has indulged in forgery and horse-trading," Dhinakaran stated. He alleged that the party attempted to bypass the anti-defection law by fabricating support. He also reveal

VCK to announce stance on backing TVK-led Tamil Nadu govt at 4 pm today

The VCK, a long-time ally of the Left parties, is expected to announce its support to the Vijay-led TVK on Saturday by following the stand of the communist parties. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalavan has already announced that his party's decision would align with the decision of the Left parties that have already extended their support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in government formation. TVK MLA-designate Marie Wilson has expressed confidence that his leader Vijay would become Chief Minister soon. Despite five days since the election results were announced and the party's euphoric victory in securing 108 seats, the TVK members' excitement continues to rise as they await the major announcement today. VCK leader Vanniarasu, a close aid of the party founder, gave clear indication that Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi was keen on getting a share in power, which the TVK is prepared to offer. TVK president Vijay, who visited senior leaders of the left partie

VCK's X handle suspended amid TVK attempting coalition govt in Tamil Nadu

This development comes after a purported post by the VCK in support of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form a coalition government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly

Left support takes Vijay's TVK closer to majority in Tamil Nadu

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to become Tamil Nadu chief minister after TVK claimed support of 120 MLAs amid intense political negotiations

Support for TVK: Left in huddle, VCK to announce stand on Saturday

TVK's chances of forming a government in Tamil Nadu hung in a balance, with the two Left parties on Friday going into a huddle over supporting the fledgling organisation while the VCK kept up the suspense by announcing to make its stand clear on Saturday. Vijay-led Tamilga Vettri Kazhagam, with 108 seats but 10 short of majority, had reached out to CPI, CPI (M) and the VCK-- all DMK allies, seeking their support to form government after winning its maiden Assembly election in Tamil Nadu which was held on April 23. CPI, CPI (M) and VCK won two seats each in the polls. While the two Left parties continued their brain-storming separately, Viduthalai Chiduthaigal Katchi (VCK) said it will hold an online meeting later on Friday to discuss the matter, although it was expected to have the discussions in the morning. The CPI executive committee is involved in weighing the pros and cons, the party said. The party was keen on safeguarding its ideology and at the same time ensure a common ..

TVK chief Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Guv second time amid bid to form govt

Following Congress' support to TVK, the number for Vijay rose from 108 to 113, which is still five short from the halfway mark in the 234 member Tamil Nadu assembly

Despite Cong support, Vijay-led TVK struggles to find more allies

Vijay's TVK falls short of majority in Tamil Nadu and struggles for allies, as political churn unfolds across Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry

Congress declares support to TVK, says alliance covers future polls as well

The Congress party, a long-time ally of the DMK, on Wednesday announced support to actor-politician Vijay's TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu and severed ties with the Dravidian major. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) have decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government, AICC Tamil Nadu incharge Girish Chodankar said in a statement citing TVK chief Vijay's request seeking support. He said: "Our support shall be conditional upon the TVK keeping out from this alliance any communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India. This alliance between the TVK and the Tamil Nadu Congress will strive to bring back Perunthalaivar Kamaraj's glory days of Tamil Nadu, with a strong commitment to Thanthai Periyar's social justice ideals and Dr BR Ambedkar's constitutional ideals in the years and decades to come. This alliance - founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two

Hung verdict in Tamil Nadu polls spark support talks for Vijay's TVK

In a changed political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu with no single political party having a simple majority to form the government post the Assembly election, opinion is divided among the allies led by the Dravidian majors in extending external support to Vijay-led TVK in government formation. Both the DMK and AIADMK are at unease as the Congress and also a section in the AIADMK express willingness to extend external support to Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagtam in forming the government. Post poll, the TVK's political prospects appear to impact alliances led by both the Dravidian majors in a different manner, triggering a speculation of a split. Leema Rose Martin, who won from Lalgudi on an AIADMK ticket, has stated that talks were underway on extending support to the TVK. Her son-in-law Aadhav Arjuna, who won from Villivakkam is TVK's general secretary. On May 5, former AIADMK minister O S Manian, emerging from his meeting with party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, stated