DMK Releases Full Candidate List for Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls, Sets Stage for Multi-Cornered Contest

Chennai, March 2026 : With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has unveiled its complete list of candidates, marking a key step in its preparations for the high-stakes electoral battle. Counting of votes will take place on May 4, with results expected the same day.

The upcoming elections are set to witness a four-cornered contest, featuring the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-aligned National Democratic Alliance (NDA), actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). Political observers anticipate a closely fought contest as multiple players vie for voter support across the state.

The DMK will contest 164 out of the total 234 Assembly constituencies, leaving the remaining 70 seats to its alliance partners. With its allies having already announced their candidates, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Friday released the party’s full slate, signalling the DMK’s readiness to enter the electoral fray with a clear and structured strategy.

Chief Minister Stalin will once again contest from his stronghold of Kolathur, while his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will seek re-election from the Chepauk–Triplicane constituency. Their candidature underscores the party’s reliance on established leadership in key constituencies.

In a significant political development, veteran leader O. Panneerselvam, who was earlier expelled from the AIADMK and later aligned with the DMK, will contest from Bodinayakanur in Theni district. The constituency has been a familiar battleground for him, having secured victories there in the past.

The party has largely retained senior leaders and sitting ministers in their existing constituencies, reflecting a strategy focused on continuity and leveraging incumbency. Prominent names include Duraimurugan, P. K. Sekar Babu, E. V. Velu, K. N. Nehru, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Raja Kannappan, Anitha Radhakrishnan, Geetha Jeevan, Masthan, and Senthil Balaji, all of whom will contest from their respective seats.

However, in a notable seat-sharing adjustment within the alliance, the Padmanabhapuram constituency—currently represented by Minister Mano Thangaraj—has been allocated to the Congress party, highlighting the importance of coalition dynamics in the electoral landscape.

The announcement of the full candidate list indicates that the DMK has completed a major phase of its election planning. With alliances finalised and candidates in place, the focus will now shift to campaigning, voter outreach, and consolidating support ahead of polling day.