R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAR 28
With the electoral chessboard for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026 now largely set, major alliances have finalised their seat-sharing arrangements, setting the stage for a high-decibel, multi-cornered political contest across the State.
- Seat-sharing sealed across rival blocs; DMDK, VCK finalize constituencies under DMK-led SPA
- AIADMK-led NDA firms up 169-seat dominance; BJP, PMK, AMMK and allies fall in line
- T.T.V. Dhinakaran unveils AMMK candidates, manifesto with loan waiver and pension pitch
- Actor-producer Sundar C. enters fray from Madurai Central on PNK ticket under NDA umbrella
- High-stakes constituencies like Saidapet, Poonamallee, Periyakulam set for multi-cornered contests
- Political undercurrents intensify as alliances balance caste equations, winnability and optics
Under the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), key partners — Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) — have been allocated their constituencies. The DMDK will contest from Virudhachalam, Virudhunagar, Dharmapuri, Gudiyattam (SC), Salem West, Polur, Pallavaram, Thiruttani, Omalur, and Mailam.
Meanwhile, Thol Thirumavalavan’s VCK will enter the fray from Kattumannarkoil (SC), Cheyyur (SC), Thiruporur, Arakkonam (SC), Tindivanam (SC), Periyakulam (SC), Kallakurichi (SC), and Panruti.
On the opposing front, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has sealed its seat-sharing pact, reinforcing its electoral structure. As per the final agreement, the AIADMK will contest 169 of the 234 constituencies, asserting its position as the dominant alliance partner. The BJP has been allocated 27 seats, followed by the PMK with 18, and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) with 11 constituencies. Smaller allies such as the IJK and the TMC have secured two and five seats respectively.
The AMMK, led by T. T. V. Dhinakaran, has moved swiftly by releasing its candidate list and outlining its poll promises. The constituencies allotted to the party include Nanguneri, Ottapidaram, Saidapet, Madathukulam, Poonamallee, Tiruchi West, Periyakulam, Mannargudi, Thiruvaiyaru, Karaikudi, and Tiruppathur.
Dhinakaran has given his nod to two former ministers, C Shanmugavel and Senthamizhan. The general secretary also released the party’s election manifesto in Chennai on Saturday, Tamil media reports said. His promises reportedly include waiver of agricultural loans, rising of the 100-day work scheme to 150 days, and the restoration of the old pension scheme preferred by teachers.
AMMK candidate list for TN Assembly polls 2026:
• Nanguneri – Isakkimuthu
• Ottapidaram – Sundar Rajan
• Saidapet – Senthamizhan
• Madathukulam – Shanmugavelu
• Poonamallee – Ezhumalai
• Tiruchi West – Thottiyam Rajasekaran
• Periyakulam – Kathirkamu
• Mannargudi – S. Kamaraj
• Thiruvaiyaru – Velu Karthikeyan
• Karaikudi – Therbogi Pandi
• Tiruppathur – Gnanasekaran
Adding a dash of star appeal to the electoral battlefield, actor-director Sundar C. will contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Madurai Central on a Puthiya Needhi Katchi (PNK) ticket, a constituent of the AIADMK-led NDA alliance, using the iconic ‘Two Leaves’ symbol.
“For the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, under the National Democratic Alliance, the Madurai Central constituency allocated to the Puthiya Needhi Katchi by the AIADMK will have the following candidate. Film producer, director, and actor Sundar C., son of Chidambaram Pillai, has been selected as the party’s candidate for the Madurai Central constituency,” the party’s president A. C. Shanmugam said in a statement.
The BJP, the second-biggest player in the alliance, is expected to hand one seat to the party. “The announcement regarding the same will be made on 30 March,” Puthiya Needhi Katchi founder Shanmugam added, noting that the candidate for that seat will contest using the BJP’s ‘Lotus’ symbol.
Despite earlier speculation over his absence during crucial seat-sharing discussions at the AIADMK headquarters, A. C. Shanmugam later held talks with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, signalling a closure to internal differences.
Madurai Central remains a politically significant constituency, currently represented by Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan. In the 2021 Assembly elections, he had defeated AIADMK’s N. Jothi Muthuramalingam by a margin of 34,176 votes, securing 49.47% of the total votes polled.
With alliances firmed up, candidates announced, and manifestos rolling out, Tamil Nadu is poised for a fiercely contested electoral battle where strategy, social equations, and star power could prove IT.
