Article: Tamil Nadu Votes on April 23: ECI Announces 2026 Election Schedule

Chennai/New Delhi, March 15, 2026 — The battle for Fort St. George has officially begun. The Election Commission of India today unveiled the schedule for the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, setting April 23 as the single-phase polling date for all 234 constituencies.

1. The Official Poll Calendar

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar confirmed that the election process will be completed before the current assembly's term ends on May 10.

Gazette Notification: March 30, 2026
Last Date for Nominations: April 6, 2026
Polling Day: April 23, 2026 (Thursday)
Counting of Votes: May 4, 2026 (Monday)

2. A Three-Way Power Struggle

The 2026 election is shaping up to be a historic triangular contest:

DMK-led Alliance: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin seeks a consecutive term, banking on social welfare schemes. The DMK recently sealed a pact with Congress for 28 seats.
AIADMK-led Alliance: Edappadi K. Palaniswami has reunited with the BJP and PMK, positioning the front as the primary challenger with promises of direct financial aid to women and youth.
TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam): In a massive wildcard entry, actor-turned-politician Vijay is making his electoral debut. While TVK is facing internal "alliance vs. solo" debates, Vijay has already been named the party's CM candidate.

3. Election by the Numbers

According to the ECI, Tamil Nadu has 5.67 crore eligible voters (2.89 crore women and 2.77 crore men). Over 75,000 polling booths will be set up across the state to ensure a smooth voting experience.

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