Chennai, 28 March (H.S):With Tamil Nadu heading into a high-voltage Assembly election on April 23, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has formally announced its full list of candidates, signalling the party’s transition from preparation to full-scale campaign mode. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, when the electoral verdict will be declared.

The 2026 election is shaping up to be a multi-cornered contest, with the DMK-led alliance facing stiff competition from the AIADMK-aligned National Democratic Alliance, actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and Naam Tamilar Katchi, making it one of the most keenly watched political battles in recent years.

Out of the total 234 constituencies, the DMK will directly contest 164 seats, leaving the remaining 70 to its alliance partners. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin released the final list, completing the coalition’s seat-sharing exercise and setting the stage for coordinated campaigning across the state.

Reaffirming his political base, Stalin will once again contest from Kolathur, while Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will defend his Chepauk–Triplicane seat. In a notable twist, veteran leader O. Panneerselvam, now aligned with the DMK, has been fielded from Bodinayakanur, a constituency closely associated with his political career.

The party has largely opted for continuity, retaining several senior ministers and key figures in their existing constituencies. Leaders including Duraimurugan, P. K. Sekar Babu, E. V. Velu, K. N. Nehru, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Raja Kannappan, Anitha Radhakrishnan, Geetha Jeevan, Masthan, and Senthil Balaji are set to seek re-election.

Meanwhile, as part of alliance adjustments, the Padmanabhapuram seat has been allotted to the Congress, replacing sitting minister Mano Thangaraj. With candidate selection finalised and alliances firmly structured, the DMK has now shifted its focus to an aggressive statewide campaign aimed at retaining power.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman