Results for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will be announced today, May 4, with officials beginning the process at 8 am across 62 centres after a high-turnout election that saw 85.1% polling. Postal ballots were taken up first, followed by EVM votes from 8.30 am, as a tightly fought three-way contest unfolds between the ruling DMK, the opposition AIADMK, and the much-watched newcomer Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by actor Vijay.
MK Stalin is trailing in the Kolathur constituency after round 7 of counting. VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is currently leading with 29,425 votes, maintaining a margin of 5,454 votes over Stalin, who has secured 23,971 votes so far.
Porkodi Armstrong of the AIADMK is trailing in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar after round 4 of counting, securing 5,989 votes and falling behind by 11,052 votes.
The seat is currently led by MR Pallavi of the TVK with 17,041 votes, a lead of 6,398 over KS Ravichandran of the DMK, who is in second place.
Porkodi, 51, is contesting her first election. She is the wife of K Armstrong, a lawyer and prominent Ambedkarite Dalit leader who was murdered in Perambur on July 5, 2024.
Aadhav Arjuna of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is leading in the Villivakkam constituency in Chennai after round 3 of counting, with a margin of over 3,420 votes. He is ahead of Karthik Mohan from the DMK, who is trailing with 9,295 votes.
Vijay is leading in both constituencies as counting progresses. In Tiruchirappalli (East), he is ahead with 12,523 votes after round 3, maintaining a lead of 5,286 votes over S Inigo Irudayaraj of the DMK. In Perambur, Vijay is leading with 13,061 votes after round 2, widening the margin to 5,865 votes against RD Shekar, also from the DMK.
At 10 am, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is leading in 100 of 234 constituencies, followed by AIADMK with 81, DMK with 50, and Naam Tamilar Katchi yet to open its account.
Based on early trends Tamil Nadu IT Minister and DMK leader Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) of the DMK is trailing in the Madurai Central constituency.
Postal ballot trends suggest a tight three-cornered contest, with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leading in 61 seats, AIADMK in 46, and DMK in 37.
In Thiruvallur, a DMK agent dies of suspected heart attack during counting.
Postal ballot counting underway: DMK leads in 48 constituencies, AIADMK in 21, and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in 8.