2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

The Sixteenth Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Election was held on 6 April 2021, to elect representatives from the 234 constituencies in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) won the election, ending the decade-long reign of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The DMK's leader M. K. Stalin became the eighth Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and the 12th Chief Minister since the 1956 reorganization. He replaced Edappadi K. Palaniswami of the AIADMK.

2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Election

← 2016 6 April 2021 2026 →

All 234 elected seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
118 seats needed for a majority
Turnout73.63% (Decrease 1.18%)[1]
  Majority party Minority party
 
Hon_CM_Photo.jpg
Palanisamy.jpg
Leader M. K. Stalin Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Party DMK AIADMK
Alliance SPA[2] NDA[3]
Leader since 2017 2017
Leader's seat Kolathur Edappadi
Last election 89 136
Seats won 133 66
Seat change Increase44 Decrease70
Popular vote 17,430,179 15,391,055
Percentage 45.38% 39.71%
Swing Increase5.53% Decrease9.39%
Alliance seats 159 75

Seatwise Election Result Map

Structure of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly after the election

Chief Minister before election

Edappadi K. Palaniswami
AIADMK

Elected Chief Minister

M. K. Stalin
DMK

The poll was Tamil Nadu's first assembly election after the demises of the two most prominent Chief Ministers in the state's modern history, J. Jayalalithaa—general secretary of the AIADMK, and M. Karunanidhi—president of the DMK, who died in 2016 and 2018 respectively. With the AIADMK winning the 2016 election, Jayalalithaa became the Chief Minister and served for almost six months. Upon her death, O. Panneerselvam took charge as the Chief Minister, shortly after which Palaniswami was sworn in instead in 2017, who served till the end of the 15th assembly's tenure. The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the elections to the 16th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on 26 February 2021.

The DMK continued its Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) with the Indian National Congress, the Communist parties and many others, and named Stalin as its candidate for the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office. The AIADMK joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling party of the Union Government of India, with Palanisami as its Chief Ministerial candidate. The polling was held on 6 April 2021 under COVID-19 guidelines. The state recorded a voter turnout of 73.63%. Surveys before and after the polls predicted the Stalin-led SPA to win the elections with a large margin. The votes were counted on 2 May 2021; the SPA amassed 159 seats, with the DMK alone winning in 133 constituencies, securing an absolute majority for the first time in 25 years. The NDA won 75 seats, out of which 66 were of the AIADMK. The DMK formed the Government of Tamil Nadu for the sixth time; Stalin and his council of ministers were sworn in on 7 May 2021.

Overview

edit

The state of Tamil Nadu is divided into 234 assembly constituencies, each of which elects a member (called an MLA) to represent it at the state's unicameral legislative assembly, as per Article 168 of the Constitution of India. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly convenes at Fort St. George, Chennai. The member that manages to receive the support of the majority of the members of the assembly (that is the Chief Ministerial candidate of the party that secures more than 50% of the seats), which is a minimum of 118 members, is appointed as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who is the executive head of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Governor of Tamil Nadu, the state's ceremonial head, will invite the Chief-Minister-elect and his Council of Ministers to be sworn in, to lead the state government for a term of the next five years.

 
The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Sunil Arora, holding a press conference in New Delhi on February 26, 2021, to announce the schedule for Legislative Assembly election of Tamil Nadu along with those of Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry.[4]

Tamil Nadu's partisan politics have been dominated by its two regional Dravidian parties, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), for the last 50 years (since 1967). Each recognized party in India is given a polling symbol by the Election Commission of India, an independent and neutral body of officers that conducts and regulates all the elections in the country. The DMK contests with the Rising Sun symbol, while the AIADMK contests with the Two Leaves.

The legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu goes to polls alongside the legislative assemblies of three other Indian states, namely Assam, Kerala, and West Bengal, and that of the union territory of Puducherry.

Background

edit
The sixteenth legislative assembly election is the first election to the body after the deaths of the two most prominent Chief Ministers and political supremos of modern Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi (pictured left) and J. Jayalalithaa (right).

Since the death of AIADMK founder M.G Ramachandran (who had been in power since 1977) in 1987, DMK's M Karunanidhi (who came into prominence in 1969 following the death of DMK founder C.N Annadurai) & AIADMK's J Jayalalitha heavily dominated the state's politics. DMK won the 1989, 1996 & 2006 elections while AIADMK won the 1991, 2001 & 2011 elections. In 2016, AIADMK retained its majority with 136 seats, while the DMK increased its strength to 98 seats. Jayalalitha became the second incumbent Chief minister of Tamil Nadu to be re-elected back in power since MGR's re-election in 1984.[5] 2021's election of the sixteenth assembly election is the first state election after the deaths of Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi, who died in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

Rise and fall of V.K. Sasikala

edit

Following Jayalalithaa's demise from cardiac arrest on 5 December 2016, O. Panneerselvam of the AIADMK became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the third time. The first two times he attained the post (21 September 2001 to 2 March 2002, and 28 September 2014 to 23 May 2015) was when Jayalalithaa was forcibly removed from office twice due to the lawsuit against her. He served as the Acting Chief Minister during Jayalalithaa's hospitalization in 2016. However, soon after swearing-in, Panneerselvam rebelled against the influence of V. K. Sasikala, a long-time friend and close associate of Jayalalithaa, inside the AIADMK party, and deemed her a threat to his Chief Ministership, exposing the factionalism inside the party. In a meeting of the party's general council held on 29 December 2016, the first meeting after Jayalalithaa's death, Sasikala was appointed as the party's general secretary.[6] On 5 February 2017, all the MLAs of the AIADMK unanimously elected Sasikala as the Legislative Assembly leader of the AIADMK, making her the Chief-Minister-elect officially.[7]

On 6 February 2017, Panneerselvam submitted his resignation letter to then Governor of Tamil Nadu, C. Vidyasagar Rao, who accepted the resignation but instructed him to continue to functioning as Chief Minister "until alternate arrangements are made", awaiting the pending verdict of the 18-year-long trial regarding the disproportionate assets of Jayalalithaa and Sasikala. Panneerselvam also claimed that he was coerced into resignation. Later in the evening, Sasikala met the Governor and laid claims to the Chief Ministership, by submitting the list of AIADMK legislators who back her. Reports stated Sasikala had those MLAs sequestered at a resort in South Chennai.[8]

On 14 February 2017, the Supreme Court of India pronounced Sasikala and her relatives guilty of criminally conspiring, laundering and amassing illicit wealth worth about 66.44 crore (equivalent to 363 crore or US$44 million in 2023) in the 1990s, and sentenced them to serve a four-year jail term at Central Prison, Bangalore, giving the convicts 24 hours to surrender.[9] This restored in toto her earlier conviction in the case[10] delivered on 27 September 2014.[11] Proceedings against Jayalalithaa had been abated and dismissed on account of her death. The conviction effectively ended Sasikala's Chief Ministerial ambitions.

Following Sasikala's conviction, the Governor rejected her claims to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In her ticking 24-hour surrender time-limit and capacity as the general secretary of the AIADMK, Sasikala convened the party's MLAs, who unanimously elected Edappadi K. Palaniswami, a then supporter of Sasikala, as the new Chief Minister. She also appointed her nephew and former treasurer of the party, T. T. V. Dhinakaran, as the party's deputy general secretary. Palaniswami as sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu the next day, replacing Panneerselvam.[12]

On 23 March 2017, the Election commission of India designated the two factions separately; Panneerselvam's faction known as "AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma)", while Dhinakaran-Palaniswami's faction known as "AIADMK (Amma)". By-polls were announced at the Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency, which was vacated due to Jayalalithaa's death. Dhinakaran was named candidate by his faction. However, the Election Commission canceled the by-polls after evidence of large-scale bribing by the ruling AIADMK (Amma) surfaced. On 17 April 2017, Delhi Police registered a case against Dhinakaran for allegedly attempting to bribe the Election Commission into giving the AIADMK's significant Twin Leaves symbol to his faction. Dhinakaran was granted bail on the grounds that the police failed to identify the bribed officer.

In the following months, the Chief Minister had a fallout with Dhinakaran. Palaniswami pronounced Dhinakaran's appointment as deputy general secretary "invalid" on 17 August 2017, and ousted him from the party.[13]

AIADMK under Dual Leadership

edit

On 21 August 2017, it was reported that the Paneerselvam faction of AIADMK had decided to merge back with the Palaniswami faction, under the terms that Sasikala would be expelled from the party.[14] On 21 August 2017, both Palaniswami and Paneerselvam factions of the AIADMK reunited, with the leaders assuming co-leadership of the party. Panneerselvam sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu and the coordinator of the AIADMK. Palaniswami was dubbed the deputy coordinator of the party. Mainstream media and publications suspected the involvement of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling party of the Union Government of India, in the AIADMK's merger. This marked the first time the BJP began to play an influential role in the Tamil Nadu politics, acting as the mediator that united the two factions. Dhinakaran and his supporters continued to dub themselves the "real AIADMK".[15][16]

On 22 August 2017, 18 MLAs of the AIADMK pledged allegiance to Dhinakaran and submitted letters to the Governor, expressing lack of confidence in Palaniswami and withdrawing their support to the Palaniswami-led government.[17] Immediately, those MLAs were expelled from the AIADMK. The Speaker of the fifteenth Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, P. Dhanapal, also disqualified those MLAs from their offices, citing the Constitution Act of 1985, which prevents the instability caused by democratically elected representatives in India's legislatures shifting allegiance from the parties they supported at the time of election, or disobeying their parties' decisions at critical times, by rendering their seats vacant. This resulted in a long legal battle, at the end of which, the Madras High Court, the highest court of Tamil Nadu, gave a verdict in the Speaker's favour and confirmed the disqualification of the 19 legislators. Following these events, Sasikala was expelled from the party on 12 September 2017, with her position as interim general secretary disputed and abolished. Instead, the late Jayalalithaa was named the eternal general secretary of AIADMK.[18]

On 23 November 2017, the Election Commission of India granted the Two Leaves symbol to the Palaniswami-Panneerselvam led AIADMK, authorizing the faction as the original AIADMK, and announced by-polls to the vacant seat of Radhakrishnan Nagar on 21 December 2017. Dhinakaran contested in the constituency as an independent candidate, and won the election with a huge margin, with around 40,000 votes more than his closest competitor. He became the first independent candidate in Tamil Nadu history to win a bypoll, claiming 50.32% of the total votes, defeating the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK.[19][20]

In March 2018, Dinakaran formed the new party Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK), with the goal of obtaining control of the AIADMK.[21]

Rise of M. K. Stalin

edit

After Karunanidhi's demise on 7 August 2018, Karunanidhi's son and political heir M. K. Stalin, who has served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Mayor of Chennai, became the unquestioned president of the DMK. The Election Commission of India announced by-polls to 24 vacant seats in the state, alongside the 2019 Indian parliamentary elections, which elects 543 members across India to its lower house, the Lok Sabha. The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (nationally, United Progressive Alliance headed by the Indian National Congress) swept Tamil Nadu in the Lok Sabha elections, winning a landslide 38 seats out of the state's 39 parliamentary constituencies. The AIADMK, which contested the election in an alliance with the BJP and the regional DMDK, won only one seat (Theni).[22] This marked a huge shift from the 2014 parliamentary elections, in which the AIADMK had won 37 seats solo, whereas the NDA won two and the DMK none.[23] In the by-polls, out of the 24 formerly AIADMK seats in the state assembly, the Stalin-led DMK won over 13 seats while the AIADMK won 10, indicating a shift in the political mindset of the state's voters. Although the incumbent AIADMK government lost 13 of its seats to the opposition party, the 10 retained seats (with new MLAs to represent them) were enough to maintain the AIADMK's absolute majority at the Legislative Assembly.

Tussle in AIADMK over Chief Ministerial candidate

edit

The Tussle started in October 2020 when Minister for Milk and Dairy development K.T. Rajenthira Balaji tweeted that the party should go for elections, with EPS as the CM candidate. A day before Balaji’s tweet, Cooperative Minister Sellur K. Raju said, “MLAs will elect the chief minister” when AIADMK wins the 2021 elections.[24] Finally, then DCM Panneerselvam made the announcement that Palaniswami would be the chief ministerial candidate of the AIADMK on 20 October 2020 morning at a much awaited meeting at the AIADMK office in Chennai.[25]

Sasikala's Announcement

edit

In January 2021, VK Sasikala was released from jail after completion of her prison time. In February 2021, she announced her intention to actively involve herself in the state's politics. Nevertheless, on 3 March 2021, she announced her decision to quit politics, to everyone's surprise.[26]

Key Issues

edit

In order to improve the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, both the AIADMK and DMK promised jobs in their manifestos. Industries, especially MSMEs, have been hit hard by the slowdown in the economy.[27] The AIADMK-led government approved a sub-quota in MBC of 10.5% for the Vanniyars, who are particularly dominant in northern Tamil Nadu.[28] The AIADMK & BJP also fulfilled the demand of grouping 7 castes under Devendrakula Velalar an agricultural community found in Tamil Nadu.[29] Recent events such as the Thoothukudi protest in 2018 against the district's Sterlite Copper plant and the Kattupalli fishermen's agitation against the expansion of Adani port have also made environmental concerns, especially climate change, a topic of debate in the elections.[30]

Madras High Court comments on Election Commission

edit

On 26 April 2021, the Madras High Court remarked that the Election Commission should be put on murder charges for allowing rallies. Further, the court said that the Election Commission was the only institution responsible for the deadly second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India as the elections of four states and a union territory were being held when second wave was striking India.[31]

Schedule

edit
Event Date
Date for Nominations 12 March 2021
Last Date for filing Nominations 19 March 2021
Date for scrutiny of nominations 20 March 2021
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures 22 March 2021
Date of poll 6 April 2021
Date of counting 2 May 2021
Date before which the election shall be completed 24 May 2021

Manifestos

edit

Election Manifesto plays a key role in determining the voting behaviour of the voters in the Tamil Nadu Electoral Politics.[32] Enabling people with information about manifestos, promises, and candidate details through technology can ensure that it reaches a huge number of people.[33][34] Global Shapers Chennai, a non-partisan group powered by the World Economic Forum has released the TN Election Promises 2021 platform.[35] The platform provides the voters with data and insights on the promises made by different parties, constituency-wise candidate background details (assets, education, criminal cases, etc.), and helps them compare the promises by categorizing them into different focus areas such as agriculture, education, etc., to help make an informed voting decision.[citation needed]

Voter statistics

edit

According to the ECI, 62.6 million people were eligible to vote in upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.[36][37] Sholinganallur assembly has the highest number of eligible voters with 694,845 voters.[38][37]

Total voters in Tamil Nadu for 2021 election
General electors Service voters Overseas voters Total Voters
62,747,653 72,853 3,243 62,823,749
Total voters in Tamil Nadu for 2021 election by gender
Male voters Female voters Third gender voters Total Voters
30,995,440 31,940,880 7,192 62,943,512

Parties and Alliances

edit
Party/Alliance Flag Symbol Leader Contesting seats
Secular Progressive Alliance Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DMK   M. K. Stalin 173
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MDMK Vaiko 6
Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi KMDK E. R. Eswaran 3
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi MMK M. H. Jawahirullah 2
All India Forward Bloc AIFB P. V. Kathiravan 1
Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi TVK T. Velmurugan 1
Makkal Viduthalai Katchi MVK S. K. Murugavel Rajan 1
Aathi Thamizhar Peravai ATP R. Athiyamaan 1
Indian National Congress INC   K. S. Alagiri 25
Communist Party of India CPI
 
R. Mutharasan 6
Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M)
 
K. Balakrishnan 6
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCK   Thol. Thirumavalavan 6
Indian Union Muslim League IUML   K. M. Kader Mohideen 3
National Democratic Alliance All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam AIADMK   179
Pattali Makkal Katchi PMK   G. K. Mani 23
Bharatiya Janata Party BJP   L. Murugan 20
Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) TMC(M)   G. K. Vasan 6
Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi PTMK N. R. Dhanapalan 1
Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam TMMK B. John Pandian 1
Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam MMK Sridhar Vandayar 1
All India Moovendar Munnani Kazhagam AIMMK N. Sethuraman 1
Puratchi Bharatham Katchi PBK M. Jaganmoorthy 1
Pasumpon Desiya Kazhagam PDK Jothi Muthuramalingam 1
People's Front Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam AMMK   T. T. V. Dhinakaran 165
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam DMDK   Vijayakanth 60
Social Democratic Party of India SDPI V. M. S. Mohamed Mubarak 6
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen AIMIM   T. S. Vakeel Ahmed 3
People's First Alliance Makkal Needhi Maiam MNM   Kamal Haasan 140
Indiya Jananayaka Katchi IJK T. R. Paarivendhar 40
All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi AISMK R. Sarathkumar 33
Tamilaga Makkal Jananayaka Katchi TMJK K.M. Shareef 9
Jananayaka Dravidia Munnetra kazhgam JDMK 8
Janata Dal (Secular) JD(S) H. D. Deve Gowda 3
Kalappai Makkal Iyakkam KMI 1
Non-aligned parties Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK   Seeman 234
Bahujan Samaj Party BSP   K Armstrong 162
Puthiya Tamilagam PTK K. Krishnasamy 60
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation CPI(ML)L Dipankar Bhattacharya 12
Samata Party[39] SAP Uday Mandal 1

Campaigning

edit

The DMK went on a campaign tour titled Vidiyalai Nokki Stalinin Kural, which began on 20 December 2020 at Thirukkuvalai, the birthplace of M. Karunanidhi.[40] Palaniswami started the AIADMK's campaign at his hometown, Edappadi, on 19 December 2020.[41] CM Palanisami also launched his "Vetrinadai Podum Tamilagam" campaign followed by "Thodarattu Vetrinadai" campaign.

BJP politician and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, addressed a public rally in Coimbatore in presence of Annamalai K to support Vanathi Srinivasan on March 31, 2021.[42] The BJP and the Hindu Munnani organized a bike rally where they shouted communal slogans. The BJP supporters also reportedly pelted stones at Muslim shops in the area.[43] BJP candidate Vanathi Srinivasan described the stone-pelting incident as a minor incident while MNM president Kamal Haasan said that "riot specialists must be defeated through unity".[44][45]

Opinion polls

edit
Election outcome projections as surveyed by various agencies prior to the election day
Date published Polling agency Lead Slim margin
DMK+ AIADMK+ AMMK+ MNM+ NTK Others [a]
04 Apr 21 Nakkheeran[46] 172 22 150 40
02 Apr 21 Thanthi TV[47] 124 52 72 58
02 Apr 21 Malai Murasu[48] 151 54 1 1 0 97 27
31 Mar 21 Junior Vikatan[49] 163 52 0 1 0 111 18
26 Mar 21 Patriotic Voter[50] 143 82 2-3 1-3 0-3 61 18
24 Mar 21 MCV Network - Spick Media[51] 158 74 02 00 00 84
24 Mar 21 Times Now - CVoter[52] 177 49 3 3 2 128
22 Mar 21 Puthiya Thalaimurai - APT[53] 151 - 158 76 - 83 68- 82
15 Mar 21 ABP News - CVoter[54] 161 - 169 53 - 61 1 - 5 2 - 6 3 - 7 100 - 116
8 Mar 21 Times Now- CVoter[55] 158 65 88- 104
27 Feb 21 ABP News- CVoter[56] 154 - 162 58 - 66 1 - 5 2 - 6 5 - 9 88- 104
18 Jan 21 ABP News- CVoter[57] 158 - 166 60 - 68 2 - 6 0 - 4 0 - 4 90 - 106

Candidates

edit

Candidates from recognized parties contested in 234 constituencies on 6 April. The Indian National Congress candidate for Srivilliputhur Assembly constituency, P. S. W. Madhava Rao, died on 11 April 2021 after testing positive for COVID-19.[58]

Voting

edit

The state recorded 73.83% voter turnout, which is 1.18% lesser than the preceding 2016 election. Karur district recorded the highest voter turnout amongst the state's districts, with 83.92%. Chennai district turned out the lowest (59.06%).

Voter turnout by districts

edit
NO District name Percentage
1 Thiruvallur 70.56%
2 Chennai 59.06%
3 Kanchipuram 71.98%
4 Chengalpattu 68.18%
5 Ranipet 77.92%
6 Vellore 73.73%
7 Thirupattur 77.33%
8 Krishnagiri 77.30%
9 Dharmapuri 82.35%
10 Thiruvannamalai 78.62%
11 Villupuram 78.56%
12 Kallakurichi 80.14%
13 Salem 79.22%
14 Namakkal 79.72%
15 Erode 77.07%
16 Tiruppur 70.12%
17 Nilgris 69.68%
18 Coimbatore 68.70%
19 Dindigul 77.13%
20 Karur 83.92%
21 Thiruchirapalli 73.79%
22 Perambalur 79.09%
23 Ariyalur 82.47%
24 Cuddalore 76.50%
25 Nagapattinam 65.48%
26 Thiruvarur 76.53%
27 Thanjavur 74.13%
28 Pudukottai 76.41%
29 Sivaganga 68.94%
30 Madurai 70.33%
31 Theni 71.75%
32 Virudhunagar 73.77%
33 Ramanathapuram 69.60%
34 Thoothukudi 70.20%
35 Tenkasi 72.63%
36 Tirunelveli 66.65%
37 Kanniyakumari 68.67%

Repoll

edit

The Election Commission of India, on 13 April 2021, declared the polling held at the polling station No. 92 in the Velachery Assembly constituency "void" under 58 (1)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The commission ordered a repoll in the station on the basis of a report submitted by the returning officers and observers. Fresh voting was conducted on 17 April 2021 between 7 am and 7 pm IST. The repoll follows the suspension of three Greater Chennai Corporation officials for transporting two EVMs and one VVPAT machine of booth number 92 on a two-wheeler in the Velachery-Tharamani road.[59][60][61][62]

Exit polls

edit

The Election Commission on March 24, banned the publication of any exit poll from 27 March till 7:30 PM of 29 April to prevent any influence on voters in the general election of West Bengal and by-elections in other states.[63][64] On April 26, the ban period was advanced to 7:00 PM.[65]

Election outcome projections as surveyed by agencies after the election day
Date published Polling agency Lead Slim margin
DMK+ AIADMK+ AMMK+ MNM+ NTK Others [a]
29 Apr 21 Republic TV - CNX[66] 160 - 170 58 - 68 4 - 6 0 - 2 92 - 112
ABP/Times Now - CVoter[67][68] 160 - 172 58 - 70 0 - 4 0 - 2 0 - 3 90 - 114
India Today - Axis My India[69][70] 175 - 195 38 - 54 1 - 2 0 - 2 0 - 2 0 - 1 121 - 157
India Ahead - P MARQ[71] 165 - 190 40 - 65 1 - 3 1 - 6 100 - 150
News24 - Today's Chanakya[71] 164 - 186 46 - 68 0 - 6 96 - 140
TV9 - Polstrat[72] 143 - 153 75 - 85 2 - 12 58 - 78 _
Shining India News[73] 147 - 177 59 - 81 0 - 2 66 - 118 _
Patriotic Voter[50] 153 74 1 3 3 72
Democracy Times Network[74] 181 - 193 44 - 52 1 - 2 0 - 1 0 129 - 149
SPICK NEWS - MCV Network[75] 146 85 2 1 0 61
Thanthi TV[76] 133 68 65 33

Results

edit

The results were announced by the Election Commission of India on 2 May 2021, starting at 9 AM IST. The DMK won 133 constituencies on its own, receiving a simple majority in the sixteenth Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, whereas its SPA alliance saw victory in a total of 159 constituencies. Meanwhile, the NDA alliance captured 75 constituencies, out of which the AIADMK had won 66. Other parties, alliances, and independent candidates did not secure any seats. After spending a decade as the opposition party, the DMK won Tamil Nadu from the AIADMK, which reigned the state for two consecutive terms (2011-2021). The AIADMK assumed the position of the opposition party at the sixteenth Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.[77][78]

Seats won by party
SPA Seats Change NDA Seats Change
DMK 133 +44 AIADMK 66 -70
INC 18 +10 PMK 5 +5
VCK 4 +4 BJP 4 +4
CPI 2 +2
CPI(M) 2 +2
TOTAL 159 +61 TOTAL 75 -61
Alliance wise votes
Alliance Votes %
Secular Progressive Alliance 20,982,088 45.38%
National Democratic Alliance 18,363,499 39.71%
Naam Tamilar Katchi 3,042,307 6.58%
People's Front 1,317,336 2.85%
People 's First Alliance 1,258,794 2.73%

Results by alliance

  SPA (45.38%)
  NDA (39.71%)
edit
 
159 75
SPA NDA
Alliance Party Votes Seats
Votes % Contested Won
SPA Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 17,430,179 37.70 188 133
Indian National Congress 1,976,527 4.27 25 18
Communist Party of India 504,537 1.09 6 2
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi 457,763 0.99 6 4
Communist Party of India (Marxist) 390,819 0.85 6 2
Indian Union Muslim League 222,263 0.48 3 0
Total 2,09,82,088 45.38 234 159
NDA All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 15,391,055 33.29 191 66
Pattali Makkal Katchi 1,758,774 3.80 23 5
Bharatiya Janata Party 1,213,670 2.62 20 4
Total 1,83,63,499 39.71 234 75
None Naam Tamilar Katchi 3,042,307 6.58 234 0
People's Front Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam 1,085,985 2.35 165 0
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam 200,157 0.43 60 0
Social Democratic Party of India 28,060 0.06 6 0
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen 3,134 0.01 3 0
PFA Makkal Needhi Maiam 1,210,667 2.62 183 0
Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi 39,288 0.08 38 0
All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi 7,650 0.02 4 0
Janata Dal (Secular) 1,189 0.01 3 0
None Others 955,161 2.07 2834 0
None of the above 345,591 0.75 - 0
Total 46,236,716 100.00 3998 234
Valid votes 46,236,716 99.77
Invalid votes 107,874 0.23
Votes cast / turnout 46,344,590 73.63
Abstentions 16,599,103 26.37
Registered voters 62,943,693
  SPA (45.38%)
  NDA (39.71%)
  Naam Tamilar Katchi (6.58%)
  People's Front (2.85%)
  MNM+ (2.73%)

By district

edit
Number of seats secured by the alliances in each district of Tamil Nadu[b]
District Total Seats SPA NDA OTH
Thiruvallur 6 6 0 0
Chennai 22 22 0 0
Kancheepuram 3 3 0 0
Chengalpattu 6 5 1 0
Ranipet 4 3 1 0
Vellore 5 4 1 0
Thirupattur 4 3 1 0
Krishnagiri 6 3 3 0
Dharmapuri 5 0 5 0
Thiruvanamalai 8 6 2 0
Villupuram 7 4 3 0
Kallakurichi 4 3 1 0
Salem 11 1 10 0
Namakkal 6 4 2 0
Erode 8 3 5 0
Nilgiris 3 2 1 0
Thiruppur 8 3 5 0
Coimbatore 10 0 10 0
Dindigal 7 4 3 0
Karur 4 4 0 0
Tiruchirapalli 9 9 0 0
Perambalur 2 2 0 0
Ariyalur 2 2 0 0
Cuddalore 9 7 2 0
Mayiladuthurai 3 3 0 0
Nagapattinam 3 2 1 0
Thiruvarur 4 3 1 0
Thanjavur 8 7 1 0
Pudukottai 6 5 1 0
Sivaganga 4 3 1 0
Madurai 10 5 5 0
Theni 4 3 1 0
Virudhunagar 7 6 1 0
Ramanathapuram 4 4 0 0
Thoothukudi 6 5 1 0
Tenkasi 5 3 2 0
Tirunelveli 5 3 2 0
Kanyakumari 6 4 2 0
Total 234 159 75 0

By Region

edit
Alliance-wise Results
Region Total Seats Secular Progressive Alliance National Democratic Alliance Others
Northern Tamil Nadu 69
59 / 69 (86%)
10 / 69 (14%)
0 / 69 (0%)
Western Tamil Nadu 68
24 / 68 (35%)
44 / 68 (65%)
0 / 68 (0%)
Southern TamilNadu 51
36 / 51 (71%)
15 / 51 (29%)
0 / 51 (0%)
Central TamilNadu 46
40 / 46 (87%)
6 / 46 (13%)
0 / 46 (0%)

By constituency

edit
Winner, runner-up, voter turnout, and victory margin in every constituency[79][80]
Assembly Constituency Turnout[81] Winner Runner Up Margin
#k Names % Candidate Party Votes % Candidate Party Votes %
Thiruvallur District
1 Gummidipoondi 78.84 T. J. Govindrajan DMK 126,452 56.94 Prakash M PMK 75,514 34 50,938
2 Ponneri (SC) 78.68 Durai Chandrasekar INC 94,528 44.94 P. Balaraman AIADMK 84,839 40.33 9,689
3 Tiruttani 79.85 S. Chandran DMK 120,314 51.72 G. Hari AIADMK 91,061 39.15 29,253
4 Thiruvallur 77.91 V. G. Raajendran DMK 107,709 50.27 B. V. Ramanaa AIADMK 85,008 39.68 22,701
5 Poonamallee (SC) 73.62 A. Krishnaswamy DMK 149,578 56.72 S. X. Rajamannar PMK 55,468 21.03 94,110
6 Avadi 67.96 S. M. Nasar DMK 150,287 49.94 K. Pandiarajan AIADMK 95,012 31.57 55,275
Chennai District
7 Maduravoyal 60.56 K. Ganapathy DMK 121,298 44.29 P. Benjamin AIADMK 89,577 32.71 31,721
8 Ambattur 62.52 Joseph Samuel DMK 114,554 47.67 V. Alexander AIADMK 72,408 30.13 42,146
9 Madavaram 66.60 S. Sudharsanam DMK 151,485 50.04 V. Moorthy AIADMK 94,414 31.19 57,071
10 Thiruvottiyur 65.36 K. P. Shankar DMK 88,185 44.34 K. Kuppan AIADMK 50,524 25.40 37,661
11 Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar 71.12 J. John Ebenezer DMK 95,763 51.2 R. S. Raajesh AIADMK 53,284 28.49 42,479
12 Perambur 63.43 R. D. Sekar DMK 105,267 52.53 N. R. Dhanapalan AIADMK (PTMK) 50,291 25.1 54,976
13 Kolathur 61.66 M. K. Stalin DMK 105,522 60.86 Aadhi Rajaram AIADMK 35,138 20.27 70,384
14 Villivakkam 56.43 A. Vetriazhagan DMK 76,127 52.83 J. C. D. Prabhakar AIADMK 38,890 26.99 37,237
15 Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar (SC) 60.93 P. Sivakumar DMK 81,727 61.13 P. L. Kalyani AIADMK 26,714 19.98 55,013
16 Egmore (SC) 61.75 I. Paranthamen DMK 68,832 57.71 B. John Pandian AIADMK (TMMK) 30,064 25.21 38,768
17 Royapuram 62.91 Idream R. Murthy DMK 64,424 53.16 D. Jayakumar AIADMK 36,645 30.24 27,779
18 Harbour 57.83 P. K. Sekar Babu DMK 59,317 58.35 Vinoj P. Selvam BJP 32,043 31.52 27,274
19 Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni 58.70 Udhayanidhi Stalin DMK 93,285 67.89 A. V. A. Kassali PMK 23,930 17.42 69,355
20 Thousand Lights 56.62 Dr. Ezhilan Naganathan DMK 49,080 53.88 Khushbu BJP 25,079 27.53 24,001
21 Anna Nagar 57.71 M. K. Mohan DMK 80,054 48.49 S. Gokula Indira AIADMK 52,609 31.87 27,445
22 Virugampakkam 57.97 A. M. V. Prabhakara Raja DMK 74,351 43.97 Virugai V. N. Ravi AIADMK 55,984 33.11 18,367
23 Saidapet 57.46 Ma.Subramanian DMK 80,194 50.02 S. Duraisamy AIADMK 50,786 31.68 29,408
24 Thiyagaraya Nagar 56.36 J. Karunanithi DMK 56,035 40.57 B. Sathyanarayanan AIADMK 55,898 40.47 137
25 Mylapore 56.71 Dha. Velu DMK 68,392 44.58 R. Nataraj AIADMK 55,759 36.34 12,633
26 Velachery 56.17 J. M. H. Aassan Maulaana INC 68,493 38.76 M. K. Ashok AIADMK 64,141 36.3 4,352
27 Shozhinganallur 55.57 S. Aravind Ramesh DMK 171,558 44.18 K. P. Kandan AIADMK 136,153 35.06 35,405
28 Alandur 61.10 T. M. Anbarasan DMK 116,785 49.12 B. Valarmathi AIADMK 76,214 32.06 40,571
Kancheepuram District
29 Sriperumbudur (SC) 74.68 K. Selvaperunthagai INC 115,353 43.65 K. Palani AIADMK 104,474 39.53 10,879
Chengalpattu District
30 Pallavaram 61.02 I. Karunanithi DMK 126,427 47.49 S. Rajendran AIADMK 88,646 33.3 37,781
31 Tambaram 59.90 S. R. Raja DMK 116,840 46.93 T. K. M. Chinnayya AIADMK 80,016 32.14 36,824
32 Chengalpattu 63.97 M. Varalakshmi DMK 130,573 47.64 M. Gajendran AIADMK 103,908 37.91 26,665
33 Thiruporur 76.96 S. S. Balaji VCK 93,954 41.44 Thirukachur Arumugam PMK 92,007 40.58 1,947
34 Cheyyur (SC) 78.75 M. Babu VCK 82,750 46.2 S. Kanitha Sampath AIADMK 78,708 43.94 4,042
35 Maduranthakam (SC) 81.97 Maragatham Kumaravel AIADMK 86,646 46.62 Mallai C. E. Sathya DMK (MDMK) 83,076 44.7 3,570
Kancheepuram District
36 Uthiramerur 80.83 K. Sundar DMK 93,427 44.38 V.Somasundaram AIADMK 91,805 43.61 1,622
37 Kancheepuram 74.20 C. V. M. P. Ezhilarasan DMK 103,235 44.77 P. Mageshkumar PMK 91,236 39.71 11,999
Ranipet District
38 Arakkonam (SC) 75.41 S. Ravi AIADMK 85,399 49.82 J. Gowthama Sannah VCK 58,230 33.97 27,169
39 Sholingur 80.60 A. N. Munirathinam INC 110,228 49.18 A. M. Krishnan PMK 83,530 37.27 24,878
41 Ranipet 77.63 R. Gandhi DMK 103,291 49.79 S. M. Sukumar AIADMK 86,793 41.84 16,498
42 Arcot 79.93 J. L. Eswarappan DMK 103,885 49.52 K. L. Elavazhagan PMK 83,927 40.01 19,958
Vellore District
40 Katpadi 74.43 Durai Murugan DMK 85,140 45.71 V. Ramu AIADMK 84,394 45.31 746
43 Vellore 70.96 P. Karthikeyan DMK 84,299 46.86 S. R. K. Appu AIADMK 75,118 41.76 9,181
44 Anaikattu 77.05 A. P. Nandakumar DMK 95,159 48.11 D. Velazhagan AIADMK 88,799 44.89 6,360
45 Kilvaithinankuppam (SC) 76.63 M. Jaganmoorthy AIADMK (PBK) 84,579 48.57 K. Seetharaman DMK 73,997 42.5 10,582
46 Gudiyattam (SC) 72.94 V. Amulu DMK 100,412 47.45 G. Paridha AIADMK 93,511 44.19 6,901
Tirupathur District
47 Vaniyambadi 75.93 G Sendhil Kumar AIADMK 88,018 46.33 N. Mohammad Nayeem IUML 83,114 43.74 4,904
48 Ambur 74.59 A. C. Vilwanathan DMK 90,476 50.86 K. Nazar Mohammed AIADMK 70,244 39.49 20,232
49 Jolarpet 81.52 K. Devaraji DMK 89,490 45.57 K. C. Veeramani AIADMK 88,399 45.02 1,091
50 Tirupattur
(Vellore)
77.72 A. Nallathambi DMK 96,522 51.91 T. K. Raja PMK 68,282 36.72 28,240
Krishnagiri District
51 Uthangarai (SC) 78.99 T. M. Tamilselvam AIADMK 99,675 52.96 J. S. Arumugam INC 71,288 37.87 28,387
52 Bargur 79.64 D. Mathiazhagan DMK 97,256 49.17 A. Krishnan AIADMK 84,642 42.8 12,614
53 Krishnagiri 78.92 K. Ashok Kumar AIADMK 96,050 45.38 T. Senguttuvan DMK 95,256 45.01 794
54 Veppanahalli 81.38 K. P. Munusamy AIADMK 94,104 45.87 P. Murugan DMK 91,050 44.38 3,054
55 Hosur 70.53 Y. Prakaash DMK 118,231 47.65 S. Jyothi Balakrishna Reddy AIADMK 105,864 42.67 12,367
56 Thalli 77.23 T. Ramachandran CPI 120,641 62.18 Dr. C. Nagesh Kumar BJP 64,415 33.2 56,226
Dharmapuri District
57 Palacode 87.03 K. P. Anbalagan AIADMK 110,070 53.28 P. K. Murugan DMK 81,970 39.68 28,100
58 Pennagaram 85.22 G. K. Mani PMK 106,123 50.46 P. N. P. Inbasekaran DMK 84,937 40.39 21,186
59 Dharmapuri 80.56 S. P. Venkateshwaran PMK 105,630 48.6 Thadangam P. Subramani DMK 78,770 36.24 26,860
60 Pappireddippatti 83.24 A. Govindasamy AIADMK 114,507 51.81 M. Prabhu Rajasekar DMK 77,564 35.1 36,943
61 Harur (SC) 79.39 V. Sampathkumar AIADMK 99,061 49.89 A. Kumar CPI(M) 68,699 34.6 30,362
Tiruvannamalai District
62 Chengam (SC) 81.31 M. P. Giri DMK 108,081 48.26 M. S. Nainakannu AIADMK 96,511 43.09 11,570
63 Tiruvannamalai 72.87 E. V. Velu DMK 137,876 66.02 S. Thanigaivel BJP 43,203 20.69 94,673
64 Kilpennathur 80.41 K. Pitchandi DMK 104,675 51.34 K. Selvakumar PMK 77,888 38.2 26,787
65 Kalasapakkam 80.62 P. S. T. Saravanan DMK 94,134 47.92 V. Panneerselvam AIADMK 84,912 43.23 9,222
66 Polur 82.39 S. S. Krishnamoorthy AIADMK 97,732 48.38 K. V. Sekaran DMK 88,007 43.57 9,725
67 Arani 79.73 Sevvoor S. Ramachandran AIADMK 102,961 46.5 S. S. Anbazhagan DMK 99,833 45.09 3,128
68 Cheyyar 82.52 O. Jothi DMK 102,460 47.78 K. Mohan AIADMK 90,189 42.05 12,771
69 Vandavasi (SC) 77.28 S. Ambethkumar DMK 102,064 54.88 S. Murali Shankar PMK 66,111 35.55 35,953
Villupuram District
70 Gingee 79.30 K. S. Masthan DMK 109,625 52.99 M. P. S. Rajendran PMK 73,822 35.68 35,803
71 Mailam 78.33 C. Sivakumar PMK 81,044 45.79 Dr. R. Masilamani DMK 78,814 44.53 2,230
72 Tindivanam 79.17 P. Arjunan AIADMK 87,152 47.74 P. Seethapathy DMK 77,399 42.4 9,753
73 Vanur (SC) 80.41 M. Chakrapani AIADMK 92,219 50.61 Vanni Arasu VCK 70,492 38.69 21,727
74 Villupuram 78.14 R. Lakshmanan DMK 102,271 49.92 C. V. Shanmugam AIADMK 87,403 42.66 14,868
75 Vikravandi 82.45 N. Pugazhenthi DMK 93,730 48.81 R. Muthamilselvan AIADMK 84,157 43.47 9,573
76 Tirukkoyilur 77.03 K. Ponmudy DMK 110,980 56.56 V. A. T. Kalivaradhan BJP 51,300 26.14 59,680
Kallakurichi District
77 Ulundurpettai 83.44 A. J. Manikannan DMK 115,451 47.15 R. Kumaraguru AIADMK 110,195 45 5,256
78 Rishivandiyam 80.17 K. Karthikeyan DMK 113,912 52.96 A. Santhosh AIADMK 72,184 33.56 41,728
79 Sankarapuram 80.35 T. Udhayasuriyan DMK 121,186 56.16 Dr. G. Raja PMK 75,223 34.86 45,963
80 Kallakurichi (SC) 78.80 M. Senthilkumar AIADMK 110,643 48.99 K. I. Manirathinam INC 84,752 37.52 25,891
Salem District
81 Gangavalli (SC) 78.03 A. Nallathambi AIADMK 89,568 48.02 J. Rekha Priyadarshini DMK 82,207 44.08 7,361
82 Attur (SC) 78.42 A. P. Jayasankaran AIADMK 95,308 47.72 K. Chinnadurai DMK 87,051 43.58 8,257
83 Yercaud (ST) 84.12 G. Chitra AIADMK 121,561 50.88 C. Tamilselvan DMK 95,606 40.02 25,955
84 Omalur 84.08 R. Mani AIADMK 142,488 57.22 Rangarajan Mohan Kumaramangalam INC 87,194 35.01 55,294
85 Mettur 76.15 S. Sadhasivam PMK 97,055 44.43 S. Srinivasa Perumal DMK 96,399 44.13 656
86 Edappadi 86.68 Edappadi K. Palaniswami AIADMK 163,154 65.97 Sampath Kumar DMK 69,352 28.04 93,802
87 Sankari 84.67 S. Sundararajan AIADMK 115,472 49.72 K. M. Rajesh DMK 95,427 41.09 20,045
88 Salem (West) 72.28 Arul Ramadas PMK 105,483 48.69 A. Rajendran DMK 83,984 38.77 21,499
89 Salem (North) 73.32 R. Rajendran DMK 93,432 46.17 G. Venkatachalam AIADMK 85,844 42.42 7,588
90 Salem (South) 76.08 E. Balasubramanian AIADMK 97,506 48.76 A. S. Saravanan DMK 74,897 37.45 22,609
91 Veerapandi 86.02 M. Rajamuthu AIADMK 111,682 49.92 Dr. A. K. Tharun DMK 91,787 41.03 19,895
Namakkal District
92 Rasipuram (SC) 83.23 M. Mathiventhan DMK 90,727 46.08 V. Saroja AIADMK 88,775 45.09 1,952
93 Senthamangalam (ST) 81.80 K. Ponnusamy DMK 90,681 45.51 S. Chandran AIADMK 80,188 40.25 10,493
94 Namakkal 80.18 P. Ramalingam DMK 106,494 51.51 K. P. P. Baskar AIADMK 78,633 38.03 27,861
95 Paramathi-Velur 82.87 S. Sekar AIADMK 86,034 46.83 K. S. Moorthy DMK 78,372 42.66 7,662
96 Tiruchengode 79.90 E. R. Eswaran DMK (KMDK) 81,688 44.23 Pon. Saraswathi AIADMK 78,826 42.69 2,862
97 Kumarapalayam 79.35 P. Thangamani AIADMK 100,800 49.92 M. Venkatachalam DMK 69,154 34.25 31,646
Erode District
98 Erode (East) 66.56 Thirumagan Evera INC 67,300 44.27 M. Yuvaraja AIADMK (TMC(M)) 58,396 38.41 8,904
99 Erode (West) 70.14 S. Muthusamy DMK 100,757 49.01 K. V. Ramalingam AIADMK 78,668 38.27 22,089
100 Modakkurichi 76.11 Dr. C.K. Saraswathi BJP 78,125 42.96 Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan DMK 77,844 42.81 281
Tiruppur District
101 Dharapuram (SC) 75.02 N. Kayalvizhi DMK 89,986 46.39 L. Murugan BJP 88,593 45.67 1,393
102 Kangayam 77.69 M. P. Saminathan DMK 94,197 47.14 A. S. Ramalingam AIADMK 86,866 43.47 7,331
Erode District
103 Perundurai 83.31 S. Jayakumar AIADMK 85,125 44.84 K. K. C. Balu DMK (KMDK) 70,618 37.2 14,507
104 Bhavani 84.36 K. C. Karuppannan AIADMK 100,915 50.11 K. P. Durairaj DMK 78,392 38.93 22,523
105 Anthiyur 80.32 A. G. Venkatachalam DMK 79,096 44.84 K. S. Shanmugavel AIADMK 77,821 44.12 1,275
106 Gobichettipalayam 83.58 K. A. Sengottaiyan AIADMK 108,608 50.68 G. V. Manimaaran DMK 80,045 37.36 28,563
107 Bhavanisagar (SC) 77.08 A. Bannari AIADMK 99,181 49.45 P. L. Sundaram CPI 83,173 41.47 16,008
Nilgiris District
108 Udhagamandalam 68.48 R. Ganesh INC 65,530 46.44 M. Bhojarajan BJP 60,182 42.65 5,348
109 Gudalur (SC) 73.08 Pon. Jayaseelan AIADMK 64,496 46.65 S. Kasilingam DMK 62,551 45.24 1,945
110 Coonoor 70.74 K. Ramachandran DMK 61,820 45.49 Kappachi D. Vinoth AIADMK 57,715 42.47 4,105
Coimbatore District
111 Mettupalayam 75.80 A. K. Selvaraj AIADMK 105231 46.75 T. R. Shanmuga Sundaram DMK 102775 45.66 2,456
Tiruppur District
112 Avanashi (SC) 75.79 P. Dhanapal AIADMK 117,284 55.16 R. Athiyamaan DMK (ATP) 66,382 31.22 50,982
113 Tiruppur (North) 62.80 K. N. Vijayakumar AIADMK 113,384 47.62 Ravi @ Subramanian M CPI 73,282 30.78 40,102
114 Tiruppur (South) 62.79 K. Selvaraj DMK 75,535 43.31 Gunasekaran S AIADMK 70,826 40.61 4,709
115 Palladam 67.09 M. S. M. Anandan AIADMK 126,903 48.53 K. Muthurathinam DMK (MDMK) 94,212 36.03 32,691
Coimbatore District
116 Sulur 76.18 V. P. Kandasamy AIADMK 118,968 49.23 Premier Selvam (A) M. Kalichamy DMK (KMDK) 87,036 36.02 32,302
117 Kavundampalayam 66.60 G. Arunkumar AIADMK 135,669 43.78 R Krishnan DMK 1,25,893 40.62 9,776
118 Coimbatore (North) 59.87 Amman K. Arjunan AIADMK 81,454 40.16 V M Shamuga Sundaram DMK 77,453 38.19 4,001
119 Thondamuthur 70.54 S. P. Velumani AIADMK 124,225 53.89 Karthikeya Sivasenapathy DMK 82,595 35.83 41,630
120 Coimbatore (South) 61.22 Vanathi Srinivasan BJP 53,209 34.38 Kamal Haasan MNM 51,481 33.26 1,728
121 Singanallur 62.11 K. R. Jayaram AIADMK 81,244 40.22 Karthik N DMK 70,390 34.84 10,854
122 Kinathukadavu 71.10 S. Damodaran AIADMK 101,537 43.68 Kuruchi Prabhakaran DMK 100,442 43.21 1,095
123 Pollachi 78.08 Pollachi V. Jayaraman AIADMK 80,567 45.44 K Varadharajan DMK 78,842 44.47 1,725
124 Valparai (SC) 70.63 T. K. Amulkandasami AIADMK 71,672 49.37 Arumugam M CPI 59,449 40.95 12,223
Tiruppur District
125 Udumalaipettai 72.05 Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan AIADMK 96,893 49.85 K. Thennarsu INC 74,998 38.59 21,895
126 Madathukulam 73.20 C. Mahendran AIADMK 84,313 46.35 Jayaramakrishnan DMK 77,875 42.81 6,438
Dindigul District
127 Palani 74.07 I. P. Senthil Kumar DMK 108,566 52.86 K. Ravi Manoharan AIADMK 78,510 38.23 30,056
128 Oddanchatram 83.63 R. Sakkarapani DMK 109,970 54.51 N. P. Nataraj AIADMK 81,228 40.26 28,742
129 Athoor 78.76 I. Periyasamy DMK 165,809 72.11 M Thilagabama PMK 30,238 13.15 135,571
130 Nilakottai (SC) 75.57 S. Thenmozhi AIADMK 91,461 49.49 S. K. Murugavel Rajan DMK (MVK) 63,843 34.55 27,618
131 Natham 79.44 Natham R. Viswanathan AIADMK 107,762 47.84 M. A. Andi Ambalam DMK 95,830 42.54 11,932
132 Dindigul 70.49 Dindigul C. Sreenivaasan AIADMK 90,545 46.83 N. Pandi CPI(M) 72,848 34.34 17,697
133 Vedasandur 80.85 S. Gandhirajan DMK 106,481 49.97 V. P. B. Paramasivam AIADMK 88,928 41.73 17,553
Karur District
134 Aravakurichi 82.78 R. Elango DMK 93,369 52.72 Annamalai Kuppuswamy BJP 68,553 38.71 24,816
135 Karur 84.49 V. Senthilbalaji DMK 101,757 49.08 M. R. Vijayabhaskar AIADMK 89,309 43.08 12,448
136 Krishnarayapuram (SC) 84.91 K. Sivagama Sundari DMK 96,540 53.37 N. Muthukumar (A) Thanesh AIADMK 64,915 35.88 29,625
137 Kulithalai 86.88 R. Manickam DMK 100,829 51.06 N. R. Chandrasekar AIADMK 77,289 39.14 23,540
Tiruchirappalli District
138 Manapaarai 76.54 P. Abdul Samad DMK (MMK) 98,077 44.23 Chandraseker. R AIADMK 85,834 38.71 12,243
139 Srirangam 77.07 M. Palaniyandi DMK 113,904 47.41 K. P. Krishnan AIADMK 93,989 39.12 19,915
140 Tiruchirappalli (West) 68.02 K. N. Nehru DMK 118,133 64.52 V. Padmanathan AIADMK 33,024 18.04 85,109
141 Tiruchirappalli (East) 67.77 Inigo S. Irudayaraj DMK 94,302 54.56 Vellamandi N. Natarajan AIADMK 40,505 23.43 53,797
142 Thiruverumbur 67.19 Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi DMK 105,424 53.51 P. Kumar AIADMK 55,727 28.29 49,697
143 Lalgudi 80.11 A. Soundara Pandian DMK 84,914 48.59 D. R. Dharmarajè AIADMK (TMC(M)) 67,965 38.89 16,949
144 Manachanallur 80.56 S. Kathiravan DMK 116,334 59.14 M. Paranjothi AIADMK 56,716 28.83 59,618
145 Musiri 77.24 N. Thiyagarajan DMK 90,624 50.43 M. Selvarasu AIADMK 63,788 35.5 26,836
146 Thuraiyur (SC) 77.77 S. Stalinkumar DMK 87,786 49.91 T. Indira Gandhi AIADMK 65,715 37.36 22,071
Perambalur District
147 Perambalur (SC) 79.28 M. Prabhakaran DMK 122,090 50.87 R. Thamizhselvan AIADMK 90,325 37.94 31,765
148 Kunnam 80.39 S. S. Sivasankar DMK 1,03,922 47.26 R. T. Ramachandran AIADMK 97,593 44.38 6,329
Ariyalur District
149 Ariyalur 85.00 K. Chinnappa DMK (MDMK) 103,975 46.16 Thamarai S. Rajendran AIADMK 100,741 44.73 3,234
150 Jayankondam 81.12 Ka. So. Ka. Kannan DMK 99,529 46 K. Balu PMK 94,077 43.48 5,452
Cuddalore District
151 Tittakudi (SC) 76.65 C. V. Ganesan DMK 83,726 49.78 D. Periyasamy BJP 62,163 36.96 21,563
152 Vriddhachalam 77.79 R. Radhakrishnan INC 77,064 39.17 J. Karthikeyan PMK 76,202 38.73 862
153 Neyveli 75.06 Saba Rajendran DMK 75,177 45.8 K. Jagan PMK 74,200 45.21 977
154 Panruti 80.26 T. Velmurugan DMK (TVK) 93,801 47.6 R. Rajendran AIADMK 89,104 45.22 4,697
155 Cuddalore 76.00 G. Iyappan DMK 84,563 46.46 M. C. Sampath AIADMK 79,412 43.63 5,151
156 Kurinjipadi 81.71 M. R. K. Panneerselvam DMK 1,01,456 51.04 Selvi Ramajayam AIADMK 83,929 42.22 17,527
157 Bhuvanagiri 79.30 A. Arunmozhithevan AIADMK 96,453 48.92 Durai K. Saravanan DMK 88,194 44.73 8,259
158 Chidambaram 73.02 K. A. Pandian AIADMK 91,961 50.16 A. S. Abdul Rahman Rabbani IUML 75,024 40.92 16,937
159 Kattumannarkoil (SC) 76.61 Sinthanai Selvan VCK 86,056 49.02 N. Murugumaran AIADMK 74,608 43 11,448
Mayiladuthurai District
160 Sirkazhi (SC) 75.74 M. Panneerselvam DMK 94,057 49.16 P. V. Bharathi AIADMK 81,909 42.81 12,148
161 Mayiladuthurai 70.97 S. Rajakumar INC 73,642 42.17 Sithamalli A. Palanisami PMK 70,900 40.6 2,742
162 Poompuhar 75.33 Nivedha M. Murugan DMK 96,102 46.24 S. Pavunraj AIADMK 92,803 44.65 3,299
Nagapattinam District
163 Nagapattinam 72.52 Aloor Shanavas VCK 66,281 46.17 Thanga Kathiravan AIADMK 59,043 41.13 7,238
164 Kilvelur (SC) 79.99 Nagai Maali (A) P. Mahalingam CPI(M) 67,988 47.55 Vadivel Ravanan PMK 51,003 35.67 16,985
165 Vedaranyam 81.99 O. S. Manian AIADMK 78,719 49.8 S. K. Vetharathinam DMK 66,390 42 12,329
Tiruvarur District
166 Thiruthuraipoondi (SC) 77.43 K. Marimuthu CPI 97,092 52.23 C. Suresh Kumar AIADMK 67,024 36.06 30,068
167 Mannargudi 74.31 Dr. T. R. B. Rajaa DMK 87,172 45.11 Siva. Rajamanickam AlADMK 49,779 25.76 37,393
168 Thiruvarur 73.68 K. Poondi Kalaivanan DMK 108,906 52.29 A. N. R. Panneerselvam AIADMK 57,732 27.72 51,174
169 Nannilam 81.51 R. Kamaraj AIADMK 103,637 46.7 S. Jothiraman DMK 99,213 44.7 4,424
Thanjavur District
170 Thiruvidaimarudur (SC) 76.47 Govi. Chezhiyan DMK 95,763 48.26 Union S. Veeramani AIADMK 85,083 42.87 10,680
171 Kumbakonam 72.34 G. Anbalagan DMK 96,057 48.62 M. Srithar Vandayar AIADMK (MMK) 74,674 37.8 21,383
172 Papanasam 75.49 Dr. M. H. Jawahirullah DMK (MMK) 86,567 43.95 K. Gopinathan AIADMK 70,294 35.69 16,273
173 Thiruvaiyaru 78.72 Durai Chandrasekaran DMK 103,210 48.82 Poondi S. Venkatesan BJP 49,560 23.44 53,650
174 Thanjavur 66.98 T. K. G. Neelamegam DMK 103,772 53.25 V. Arivudainambi AIADMK 56,623 29.06 47,149
175 Orathanadu 78.70 R. Vaithilingam AIADMK 90,063 46.95 M. Ramachandran DMK 61,228 31.92 28,835
176 Pattukkottai 72.07 K. Annadurai DMK 79,065 44.62 N. R. Rengarajan AIADMK 53,796 30.36 25,269
177 Peravurani 77.6 Peravurani N. Ashokkumar DMK 89,130 52.17 S. V. Thirugnana Sambandam AIADMK 65,627 38.41 23,503
Pudukottai District
178 Gandharvakottai (SC) 78.18 M. Chinnadurai CPI(M) 69,710 44.23 S. Jayabharati AIADMK 56,989 36.16 12,721
179 Viralimalai 85.89 C. Vijayabaskar AIADMK 102,179 52.83 M. Palaniappan DMK 78,581 40.63 23,598
180 Pudukkottai 73.72 Dr. V. Muthuraja DMK 85,802 47.7 V. R. Karthik Thondaiman AIADMK 72,801 40.47 13,001
181 Thirumayam 76.37 S. Regupathy DMK 71,349 41 P. K. Vairamuthu AIADMK 69,967 40.2 1,382
182 Alangudi 79.06 Meyyanathan Siva V DMK 87,935 51.17 Dharma. Thangavel AIADMK 62,088 36.13 25,847
183 Aranthangi 70.90 T. Ramachandran INC 81,835 48.7 M. Rajanayagam AIADMK 50,942 30.31 30,893
Sivaganga District
184 Karaikudi 66.96 S. Mangudi INC 75,954 35.75 H. Raja BJP 54,365 25.59 21,589
185 Tiruppattur
(Sivaganga)
72.24 K. R. Periyakaruppan DMK 103,682 49.19 Marudhu Alaguraj AIADMK 66,308 31.46 37,374
186 Sivaganga 67.09 P. R. Senthilnathan AIADMK 82,153 40.66 S. Gunasekaran CPI(M) 70,900 35.09 11,253
187 Manamadurai (SC) 72.88 A. Tamilarasi DMK 89,364 44.01 S. Nagarajan AIADMK 75,273 37.07 14,091
Madurai District
188 Melur 74.61 P. Selvam AIADMK 83,344 45.6 T. Ravichandran INC 48,182 26.36 35,162
189 Madurai East 72.26 P. Moorthy DMK 122,729 51.59 Gopalakrishnan AIADMK 73,125 30.74 49,604
190 Sholavandan (SC) 80.17 A. Venkatesan DMK 84,240 48.04 Manickam AIADMK 67,195 38.32 17,045
191 Madurai North 64.27 G. Thalapathi DMK 73,010 46.64 P. Saravanan BJP 50,094 32 22,916
192 Madurai South 62.24 M. Boominathan DMK (MDMK) 62,812 42.49 S.S.Saravanan AIADMK 56,297 38.08 6,515
193 Madurai Central 61.77 Palanivel Thiagarajan DMK 73,205 48.99 Jothi Muthuramalingam AIADMK (PDK) 39,029 26.12 34,176
194 Madurai West 65.67 Sellur K. Raju AIADMK 83,883 41.59 C. Chinnammal DMK 74,762 37.07 9,121
195 Thiruparankundram 73.36 V. V. Rajan Chellappa AIADMK 103,683 43.96 S. K. Ponnuthai CPI(M) 74,194 31.46 29,489
196 Tirumangalam 78.86 R. B. Udhaya Kumar AIADMK 100,338 45.51 M. Maniraman DMK 86,251 39.12 14,087
197 Usilampatti 74.19 P. Ayyappan AIADMK 71,255 33.53 P. V. Kathiravan DMK (AIFB) 63,778 30.01 7,477
Theni District
198 Andipatti 75.28 A. Maharajan DMK 93,541 44.64 A. Logirajan AIADMK 85,003 40.57 8,538
199 Periyakulam (SC) 70.69 K. S. Saravana Kumar DMK 92,251 45.71 M. Murugan AIADMK 70,930 35.15 21,321
200 Bodinayakanur 77.04 O. Panneerselvam AIADMK 100,050 46.58 Thanga Tamil Selvan DMK 89,029 41.45 11,021
201 Cumbum 70.17 N. Eramakrishnan DMK 104,800 51.81 S. P. M. Syed Khan AIADMK 62,387 30.84 42,413
Virudhunagar District
202 Rajapalayam 74.63 S. Thangappandian DMK 74,158 41.5 K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji AIADMK 70,260 39.32 3,898
203 Srivilliputhur (SC) 73.83 E. M. Manraj AIADMK 70,475 38.09 P. S. W. Madhava Rao INC 57,737 31.2 12,738
204 Sattur 75.69 A. R. R. Raghuraman DMK (MDMK) 74,174 38.68 R. K. Ravichandran AIADMK 62,995 32.85 11,179
205 Sivakasi 70.88 A. M. S. G. Ashokan INC 78,947 42.66 Lakshmi Ganesan AIADMK 61,628 33.3 17,319
206 Virudhunagar 72.16 A. R. R. Seenivasan DMK 73,297 45.32 G. Pandurangan BJP 51,598 32.13 21,699
207 Aruppukkottai 76.49 Sattur Ramachandran DMK 91,040 53.18 Vaigaichelvan AIADMK 52,006 30.38 39,034
208 Tiruchuli 78.65 Thangam Thennarasu DMK 102,225 59.15 S. Rajasekar AIADMK (AIMMK) 41,233 23.86 60,992
Ramanathapuram District
209 Paramakudi (SC) 71.11 S. Murugesan DMK 84,864 46.59 N. Sadhan Prabhakar AIADMK 71,579 39.3 13,285
210 Tiruvadanai 69.30 R. M. Karumanikam INC 79,364 39.33 K. C. Animuthu AIADMK 65,512 32.46 13,852
211 Ramanathapuram 69.41 K. Muthuramalingam DMK 111,082 51.88 D. Kuppuram BJP 60,603 28.31 50,479
212 Mudhukulathur 71.13 R. S. Raja Kannappan DMK 101,901 46.06 Keerthika Muniyasamy AIADMK 81,180 36.7 20,721
Thoothukudi District
213 Vilathikulam 77.06 G. V. Markandayan DMK 90,348 54.05 P. Chinnappan AIADMK 51,799 30.99 38,549
214 Thoothukkudi 65.99 P. Geetha Jeevan DMK 92,314 49 S. D. R. Vijayaseelan AIADMK 42,004 22.29 50,310
215 Tiruchendur 71.20 Anitha R. Radhakrishnan DMK 88,274 50.58 M. Radhakrishnan AIADMK 63,011 36.1 25,263
216 Srivaikuntam 73.16 Oorvasi S. Amirtharaj INC 76,843 46.75 S. P. Shanmuganathan AIADMK 59,471 36.18 17,372
217 Ottapidaram (SC) 70.68 M. C. Shunmugaiah DMK 73,110 41.11 P. Mohan AIADMK 64,600 36.32 8,510
218 Kovilpatti 67.86 Kadambur C. Raju AIADMK 68,556 37.89 T. T. V. Dhinakaran AMMK 56,153 31.04 12,403
Tenkasi District
219 Sankarankovil (SC) 72.11 E. Raja DMK 71,347 38.92 V. M. Rajalakshmi AIADMK 66,050 36.03 5,297
220 Vasudevanallur (SC) 72.75 Dr. T. Sadhan Tirumalaikumar DMK (MDMK) 68,730 39.08 A. Manoharan AIADMK 66,363 37.70 2,367
221 Kadayanallur 70.71 C. Krishnamurali AIADMK 88,474 43.08 K. A. M. Muhammed Abubacker IUML 64,125 31.22 24,349
222 Tenkasi 73.19 S. Palani Nadar INC 89,315 41.71 S. Selvamohandas Pandian AIADMK 88,945 41.54 370
223 Alangulam 78.05 P. H. Manoj Pandian AIADMK 74,153 36.44 Dr. Poongothai Aladi Aruna DMK 70,614 34.70 3,539
Tirunelveli District
224 Tirunelveli 67.57 Nainar Nagendran BJP 92,282 46.70 A. L. S. Lakshmanan DMK 69,175 35.01 23,107
225 Ambasamudram 72.52 E. Subaya AIADMK 85,211 47.96 R. Avudaiappan DMK 68,296 38.44 16,915
226 Palayamkottai 58.89 M. Abdul Wahab DMK 89,117 55.32 G. Gerald AIADMK 36,976 22.95 52,141
227 Nanguneri 69.29 Ruby R. Manoharan INC 75,902 39.43 Ganesa Raja AIADMK 59,416 30.86 16,486
228 Radhapuram 69.18 M. Appavu DMK 82,331 43.95 I.S. Inbudurai AIADMK 76,406 40.79 5,925
Kanniyakumari District
229 Kanniyakumari 76.66 N. Thalavai Sundaram AIADMK 109,745 48.8 S. Austin DMK 93,532 41.59 16,213
230 Nagercoil 68.00 M. R. Gandhi BJP 88,804 48.21 N. Suresh Rajan DMK 77,135 41.88 11,669
231 Colachel 67.95 J. G. Prince INC 90,681 49.56 P. Ramesh BJP 65,849 35.99 24,832
232 Padmanabhapuram 70.65 Mano Thangaraj DMK 87,744 51.57 D. John Thangam AIADMK 60,859 35.77 26,885
233 Vilavancode 67.12 S. Vijayadharani INC 87,473 52.12 R. Jayaseelan BJP 58,804 35.04 28,669
234 Killiyoor 66.54 S. Rajeshkumar INC 101,541 59.76 K. V. Jude Dev AIADMK 46,141 27.15 55,400
edit
  • In Northern Tamil Nadu, the Chennai Metropolitan Area and its surroundings proved to be a stronghold of the DMK. The DMK-led SPA completely swept all of the constituencies located in Chennai, Thiruvallur, and Kanchipuram districts.[82] While facing tough competition in other parts of the North, the DMK bagged 64 of the region's 78 seats, overcoming the polarization between the AIADMK and the DMK that existed in the region in the 2016 election. The region expressed a strong anti-NDA trend, with the results indicating that the AIADMK did not benefit much from its alliance with the PMK and the 10.5% internal reservation that was granted to the Vanniyar community within the Most Backward Community (MBC) quota.[83]
  • The politically sensitive Central Tamil Nadu and Kaveri delta region exhibited an overwhelming support for the SPA, with the AIADMK-led NDA winning only four out of the region's 41 seats. The DMK was met with victory in all the seats of Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Mayiladuthurai districts, crucially. The resentment that prevailed amongst the region's farmers over the former AIADMK government's inability to resolve agricultural problems in the region has been cited as a reason.[84]
  • Except Madurai district, which was equally split between the AIADMK and DMK, much of Southern Tamil Nadu swinged towards the DMK alliance, an anti-incumbent trend compared to 2016, in which the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK (without the BJP) had swept most of the region's seats, except Kanyakumari district, which remained as an SPA stronghold. The region also gave the DMK its highest victory margin ever, with over 130,000 votes in Athoor constituency where its senior leader I. Periasamy defeated the PMK candidate.[85]
  • The AIADMK maintained its traditional sway in Western Tamil Nadu, popularly known as Kongu Nadu, where the NDA won more than 70% of the constituencies. Most notably, the NDA won in all the constituencies of Coimbatore and Dharmapuri districts.[86]
  • The cities of Tamil Nadu fuelled the DMK's victory in the election. 2021 exposed "a clear rural-urban divide" in the voting patterns of the state. Trends showed that DMK performed very well in the urban centres than the AIADMK. There are 154 rural, 30 semi-urban and 50 urban constituencies in the state. The DMK alliance won 40 of those urban seats, 96 of the rural seats and 23 of the semi-urban seats. Of the 75 seats the AIADMK alliance won, 58 were in rural areas, with only seven in semi-urban and 10 in urban centres. The SPA's strike rate was 80% in urban seats, 76% in semi-urban seats and 62% in rural seats, whereas the NDA's strike rate was 37% in rural seats, 23% in semi-urban seats and 20% in urban seats.[87]

Reactions and aftermath

edit

Palaniswami and his ministers resigned on 3 May 2021, submitting their papers of resignation to Banwarilal Purohit, the Governor of Tamil Nadu.[88] During the early hours of the same day, DMK president Stalin paid respects at the memorial of his father and five-time Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi. Speaking to the journalists gathered there, Stalin stated that he will be sworn in as the Chief Minister in a simplistic ceremony that may be held at the Raj Bhavan, the Governor's residence. He underlined that the DMK will form the government for the sixth time in Tamil Nadu, and will follow the footsteps of Karunanidhi. Stalin added that the DMK's governance "will be such that those who had voted for the party will feel happy voting for it, and even those who did not vote would regret their decision to not have voted for the party".[89]

After the resignation of Palanisami's administration, officials of the Public Works Department began resetting the Tamil Nadu Secretariat to prepare the campus for the new government under Stalin. The Chief Minister's Office returned all the files to the departments concerned, with the office quarters white-washed and name-boards of former ministers taken down.[90]

Politicians, celebrities and government officials across India congratulated Stalin on his victory. The out-going Chief Minister Palanisami congratulated Stalin, tweeting: "My best wishes to M.K. Stalin who is going to take oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister". In another tweet, Stalin thanked Palanisami and sought his cooperation for "building the best Tamil Nadu".[89] Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, tweeted that he will work with Stalin to enhance the nation's progress, fulfill the regional interests of Tamil Nadu, and fight the COVID-19 pandemic.[91]

On 10 May 2021, the newly elected AIADMK MLAs convened to choose the new Leader of the Opposition, an important post equivalent to a cabinet minister. The meeting was inconclusive, with both Panneerselvam and Palaniswami staking claims to the post, while their supporters hurled charges against each other. This included a prolonged quarrel between the two sections of the party outside the party's head office, causing unrest. Supporters of Palaniswami believed that he should be the Leader of the Opposition due to the party's good performance in the election in western Tamil Nadu, the region he hails from; whereas, Panneerselvam's supporters felt that the party fared poorly in other regions of the state due to Palaniswami's wrong policies during his Chief Ministerial tenure.[92] Eventually, Palaniswami was elected as the Leader of the Opposition.[93]

After MNM performed unfavorably in its first-ever election, many officials and candidates resigned from the party, such as its vice president Dr. Mahendran, Muruganandam, C K Kumaravel. Mahendran said that "the attitude of Kamal Haasan towards the growth of the party has not been changed even after facing huge loss in the Tamil Nadu assembly election". He cited the presence of "Sankhya solutions" in the party and added that Haasan is being misguided. Others cited "personal reasons".[94]

Formation of government

edit

On 3 May 2021, Durai Murugan, the general secretary of the DMK, called for a meeting of all the party's newly elected MLAs on 4 May 2021, at 4 PM, in Anna Arivalayam (the DMK headquarters, Chennai). In the meeting, the 133 MLAs formally extended their support to Stalin's appointment as the DMK's head at the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, making him the Chief-Minister-elect. Stalin's council of ministers and their allocated departments were revealed on 6 May 2021. The Stalin administration took charge on 7 May 2021, sworn in by Governor Purohit, in a ceremony at Raj Bhavan.[95] Stalin became the eighth Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and the twelfth Chief Minister since the linguistic reformation of the state's boundaries in 1956.[96]

edit

A fictionalized version of this election is an important plot point in the film Maamannan (2023)[citation needed]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b May include NTK and other parties not asked in survey
  2. ^ Numbers of constituencies in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Ranipet, Thirupathur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts adjusted as per their new boundaries before the election.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Tamil Nadu General Legislative Election 2021". 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Tamil Nadu Assembly polls | DMK to field candidates in 174 seats". The Hindu. 9 March 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Shah exudes confidence of NDA 'coalition govt' in Tamil Nadu post assempolls". mint. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Will Modi remain the Shah of Indian politics in 2020?". India Today. 30 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Victorious Jayalalithaa hails people's faith in AIADMK". The Hindu. 19 May 2016.
  6. ^ "V.K. Sasikala appointed as AIADMK general secretary". The Hindu. 29 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  7. ^ Jesudasan, Dennis S. "Sasikala set to become Tamil Nadu Chief Minister". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  8. ^ Simhan, T. E. Raja (9 February 2017). "Governor in Chennai, decision on TN CM soon". @businessline. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  9. ^ Ushinor, Majumdar. "What The SC Said About Jayalalithaa: She Was The Source Of Funds For Shell Companies". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  10. ^ Rajagopal, Krishnadas. "Jayalalithaa, Sasikala criminally conspired at Poes Garden to launder ill-gotten wealth: SC". The Hindu. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Justice John D'Cunha: The no-nonsense judge who convicted Jayalalithaa". Firstpost. Bangalore. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Governor accepts CMs resignation". Business Line. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  13. ^ "AIADMK merger stage set: TTV Dhinakaran ousted as ruling EPS faction fulfills rebels' demand". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Sasikala to be expelled from AIADMK, OPS settles for deputy CM". The News Minute. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  15. ^ "Will BJP break into Tamil Nadu this time?". Deccan Herald. 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  16. ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (12 September 2017). "Sasikala removed as AIADMK chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  17. ^ Jesudasan, Dennis S. (22 August 2017). "19 pro-Dhinakaran MLAs withdraw support to Palaniswami". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021 – via www.thehindu.com.
  18. ^ "AIADMK sacks Sasikala, says Jaya is 'eternal general secretary'". Deccan Chronicle. 12 September 2017. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  19. ^ S, Mohamed Imranullah (25 October 2018). "Madras High Court upholds disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  20. ^ "AIADMK hit, DMK rattled as TTV Dinakaran wins RK Nagar seat". The Indian Express. 25 December 2017. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  21. ^ "TTV Dhinakaran Launches Amma Makkal Munneetra Kazagam". The Hindu. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Anti-Modi wave in TN; DMK alliance wins 37 of 38 seats". Deccan Herald. 23 May 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  23. ^ "2014 Lok Sabha elections — Results". www.webcitation.org. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  24. ^ "EPS or OPS? AIADMK still undecided on CM candidate, party chief". The Week. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  25. ^ "AIADMK tiff over? Palaniswami to be CM candidate, says Panneerselvam". The Week. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  26. ^ "V K Sasikala says she is quitting politics ahead of Tamil Nadu polls". Livemint. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  27. ^ Kandavel, Sangeetha; Preetha, M. Soundariya (20 March 2021). "Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections | MSME sector flags infra issues". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  28. ^ "AIADMK, BJP and PMK using caste for electoral gains: Thirumavalavan". The Hindu. 3 March 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Lok Sabha passes bill to place seven castes under Devendrakula Velalars in Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. 19 March 2021. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Fishermen seek parties' stand on Kattupalli private port's request". The Hindu. 14 March 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Election Commission Should Be Charged With Murder for Allowing Rallies: Madras HC". The Wire. 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  32. ^ Rajasena, Saravana (1 December 2016). "Election Manifesto is the key Determinant of Voting Behaviour in Tamil Nadu Electoral Politics" (PDF). Asian Review of Social Sciencesf. 5 (2): 38–43. doi:10.51983/arss-2016.5.2.1317. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Paving way for political presence". The New Indian Express. 27 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  34. ^ Natarajan, Aruna (2 April 2021). "Desalination plants, ECR expansion, airport upgrade, GCC split: What are the different parties promising Chennai?". Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Election Promises Platform - Tamil Nadu". Global Shapers. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  36. ^ "TamilNadu Final Electoral list,2021". Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  37. ^ a b "Tamil Nadu General Assembly Elections MAY-2021". Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  38. ^ "Election Promises Platform - Tamil Nadu". Global Shapers. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  39. ^ "D.SASIRAJ - Samata Party Candidate for THIRUVOTTIYUR Constituency, Tamil Nadu Elections | #rethinkelection". rethinkelection.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  40. ^ TK, Smitha (20 November 2020). "DMK Youth Secy Udhayanidhi Stalin Detained During Poll Campaign". TheQuint. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  41. ^ "TN 2021 Assembly polls: CM Palaniswami visits temple, starts AIADMK campaign in Salem". 19 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  42. ^ "Video: BJP cadres create ruckus ahead of UP CM Yogi Adityanath's Coimbatore visit". The News Minute. 1 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  43. ^ Khan, Rushda Fathima (3 April 2021). "BJP Goons Pelt Stones, Chant Communal Slogans In Muslim Area During Yogi Adityanath's Coimbatore Rally Organised Without Permission". The Cognate. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  44. ^ "Ukkadam incident minor issue: Vanathi Srinivasan". The New Indian Express. 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  45. ^ "Riot specialists must be defeated through unity: Kamal Haasan". The Hindu. 1 April 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  46. ^ "உங்கள் தொகுதியில் யாருக்கு வெற்றி? - நக்கீரன் மெகா சர்வே ரிசல்ட்". nakkheeran. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  47. ^ "மக்கள் யார் பக்கம் | தமிழகத்தில் அடுத்து யார் ஆட்சி?- பிரமாண்ட கருத்துக்கணிப்பு முடிவு". Thanthi TV–. 3 April 2021. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  48. ^ "தேர்தலில் 151 இடங்களை திமுக கைப்பற்றும் – மாலை முரசு கருத்துக்கணிப்பில் தகவல்". மாலை முரசு. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  49. ^ "மெகா சர்வே ரிசல்ட்... யாருக்கு வெற்றி?". Junior Vikatan–. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  50. ^ a b "Tamil Nadu Scurvy 202". Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  51. ^ Tamil Nadu Election Opinion Poll 2021 | AIADMK | DMK | AMMK | Makkal Needhi Maiam | Naam Tamilar. MCV Network. 24 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via YouTube.
  52. ^ @TimesNow (24 March 2021). "#May2WithTimesNow | Times Now-CVoter Opinion Poll: Alliance-wise seat share in Tamil Nadu. https://t.co/4ZerPZz9lV" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  53. ^ "Puthiyathalaimurai News - APT Opinion Poll 2021". PuthiyathalaimuraiTV. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  54. ^ "ABP CVoter Opinion Poll 2021". ABP Website. 15 March 2021. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  55. ^ "Tamil Nadu pre-poll survey 2021: 'DMK-Congress alliance likely to win big, MK Stalin preferred CM'". Times now news. 8 March 2021. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  56. ^ "ABP-CVoter Election 2021 Opinion Poll LIVE: UPA Alliance Predicted To Shine In Tamil Nadu; Voters Mood Not In Favour Of BJP, MNM". ABP Live. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  57. ^ "ABP-CVoter Election 2021 Opinion Poll Live: People In Bengal Satisfied With Mamata, TMC To Regain Power". ABP Live. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  58. ^ Sivarajah, Padmini (11 April 2021). "Madhava Rao, Congress MLA candidate in Srivilliputhur, dies of Covid-19". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  59. ^ "EC orders repolling of booth number 92 in TN's Velachery, fresh voting on April 17". The News Minute. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  60. ^ Madhav, Pramod (13 April 2021). "EC announces re-polling at one polling station under Velachery constituency". India Today. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  61. ^ Kabirdoss, Yogesh (13 April 2021). "EC announces repolling at one polling station in Velachery constituency". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  62. ^ "Repoll in Velachery booth on Saturday". The Hindu. 14 April 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  63. ^ "Election Commission bans exit polls till 7:30 PM on April 29". NewsOnAIR. Archived from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  64. ^ "Exit Poll Results 2021 date and time: When and where to watch exit poll results for West Bengal, Assam, TN, Kerala and Puducherry". Firstpost. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  65. ^ The Times Of India [@timesofindia] (29 April 2021). "Results of exit polls for elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and UT of Puducherry can be broadcast after 7 pm tonight" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  66. ^ @republic (29 April 2021). "#RepublicCNXExitPoll | Lead for BJP projected in Puducherry with 16-20 seats vs Cong+ on 11-13 seats. Tune in to watch updates here - https://t.co/dFnosBGYkP https://t.co/W4j4elVVfX" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  67. ^ "Tamil Nadu Exit Poll Results 2021: DMK-Congress Alliance Set To Storm Into Power, Predicts Times Now/ABP-CVoter | 🗳️ LatestLY". LatestLY. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  68. ^ "Tamil Nadu Exit Poll 2021: DMK-Congress alliance set to win big; exit for AIADMK+, says Times Now-CVoter poll". Twitter. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  69. ^ "India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicts close fight in Bengal, DMK winning Tamil Nadu, Left in Kerala". India Today. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  70. ^ @AxisMyIndia (29 April 2021). "#ExitPolls https://t.co/wnvF9FxdUA" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  71. ^ a b "Exit Poll Results 2021 Live by P-MARQ | Assembly Elections Exit Polls Result of West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry". News18. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  72. ^ "TV9-Polstrat Exit Poll result 2021". TV9. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  73. ^ @HRITHIKSAINI1 (29 April 2021). "#ShiningIndiaExitPoll #TamilNadu 2021. #ExitPoll Seat share, Total seats 234. DMK+ : 162 +-15 AIADMK+: 70 +-11 MNM : 01 +-1 Others : 01 +-1 (Close fight 34 seats) #ShiningIndiaSurvey @mkstalin @EPSTamilNadu @JPNadda @RahulGandhi https://t.co/5ncaoGW89j" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  74. ^ "Democracy Times Network". Twitter. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  75. ^ @Spick_Media (29 April 2021). "Tamilnadu Election Exit Poll 2021 #AIADMK #DMK #AMMK #MakkalNeedhiMaiam #NaamTamilar #ExitPoll #TNElection2021 #TNElections2021 DMK +: 146 (43.51%) AIADMK +: 85 (37.65%) AMMK +: 02 (06.32%) MNM +: 01 (04.24%) NTK: 00 (05.38%) https://t.co/0WPrTb1gfP" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  76. ^ @ThanthiTV (29 April 2021). "#ThanthiTVExitPoll : தேர்தலுக்கு பிந்தைய கருத்துக்கணிப்பு முடிவுகள் - யாருக்கு எவ்வளவு ? #MakkalYaarPakkam | #ThanthiTVPoll | #ExitPollWithThanthiTV | #ElectionsWithThanthiTV https://t.co/rFQ3YUB9sM" (Tweet) (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  77. ^ "Tamil Nadu Election Results 2021 Live: DMK leader Stalin to take oath as CM on May 7". The Times of India. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  78. ^ "Detailed Result, Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021" (PDF). eci.gov.in.
  79. ^ "Tamil Nadu Election Results 2021: Here's full list of winners". CNBCTV18. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  80. ^ India TV (3 May 2021). "Tamil Nadu Election Result 2021: Check Full List of Winners Constituency wise". Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  81. ^ Tamil Nadu general legislative election 2021 eci.gov.in Archived 2021-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
  82. ^ "TN Election Results: These are the regions that helped DMK seal their victory". The New Indian Express. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  83. ^ "DMK makes a clean sweep in northern Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. 3 May 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  84. ^ "TN Election results: Good harvest for DMK in Delta region". The New Indian Express. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  85. ^ Srikrishna, L. (3 May 2021). "DMK makes gains in south T.N." The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  86. ^ Prasad, K. v (3 May 2021). "Western Tamil Nadu remains an AIADMK fortress". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  87. ^ "40 out of 50: Cities fuelled DMK win". The Times of India. 4 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  88. ^ "Stalin expected to take oath on May 7; Udhayanidhi unlikely in 'younger' cabinet". The Week. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  89. ^ a b "Outgoing CM Palaniswami congratulates Stalin, who responds seeking EPS' ideas and cooperation". WION. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  90. ^ Jesudasan, Dennis S. (4 May 2021). "Preparations under way at the Secretariat to host DMK government". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  91. ^ "PM Modi congratulates Mamata, Vijayan, Stalin for poll win". The Times of India. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  92. ^ Jesudasan, Dennis S. (8 May 2021). "AIADMK unable to decide on Leader of Opposition post". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  93. ^ "Edappadi Palaniswami elected as Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly". newindianexpress. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  94. ^ Nath, Akshaya (13 May 2021). "After VP, 2 more members of Kamal Haasan's MNM resign from party". India Today. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  95. ^ "Stalin swearing in as Tamil Nadu CM tomorrow; this is what his cabinet will look like". The Indian Express. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  96. ^ Saxena, Prasanth (7 May 2021). "Finally, son rises in Tamil Nadu as Stalin becomes Chief Minister". The Federal. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.