Exit Polls Predict DMK Majority in Tamil Nadu

Exit polls conducted after voting in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on April 23, 2026, indicate that the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance is poised to retain power with a majority in the 234-seat legislature, positioning Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for a second consecutive term.

Polling occurred in a single phase across the state, with voter turnout reaching approximately 82 to 85 percent, according to Election Commission figures. Districts such as Karur, Salem, and Erode recorded some of the highest participation rates, exceeding 87 percent in several areas. Counting is scheduled to begin on May 4 at 8 a.m., starting with postal ballots before electronic voting machines.

Multiple exit polls project the DMK alliance securing between 92 and 160 seats, well above the 118 needed for a majority. Projections from agencies including Chanakya Strategies, Matrize, PMARQ, Peoples Pulse, and Peoples Insight place the alliance in the 120 to 145 seat range. A poll of polls similarly forecasts around 130 seats for DMK allies. The alliance, which includes the Congress, Communist parties, VCK, and MDMK, contested most seats with DMK fielding candidates in 184.