Tamil Nadu: no government lasts long
14 Assembly elections · 1967–2026 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.
Tamil Nadu has voted in 14 Assembly elections between 1967 and 2026. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has been the largest party in 7 of them — more than any rival.
Power has changed hands 9 times. The steadiest run was All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's — the top party from 1977 to 1984 across 3 elections.
In 2006, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam broke through — 96 of 234 seats — ending All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's hold, which fell from 132 to 61.
In 2011, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam broke through — 150 of 234 seats — ending Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's hold, which fell from 96 to 23.
In 2021, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam broke through — 133 of 234 seats — ending All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's hold, which fell from 134 to 66.
In 2026, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam broke through — 108 of 234 seats — ending Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's hold, which fell from 133 to 59.
The sharpest single swing was 1996: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam went from 2 to 173 seats, a gain of 171.
Most recently, in 2026, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam holds 108 of 234 seats on 35.1% of the vote — short of the 118-seat majority.
Pivotal elections
who held the house, seat by seat- DMK13759%
- INC5122%
- SWA209%
- CPM115%
- Others156%
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam · 40.7% of the vote · majority
- DMK17374%
- TMCM3917%
- CPI83%
- AIADMK42%
- Others104%
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam · 42.1% of the vote · majority
- TVK10846%
- DMK5925%
- AIADMK4720%
- INC52%
- Others156%
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam · 35.1% of the vote · short of majority
Every time power changed hands
- 1977AIADMK took the house with 130 of 234, ending DMK’s run (184 → 48).
- 1989DMK took the house with 150 of 234, ending AIADMK’s run (132 → 0).
- 1991AIADMK took the house with 164 of 234, ending DMK’s run (150 → 2).
- 1996DMK took the house with 173 of 234, ending AIADMK’s run (164 → 4).
- 2001AIADMK took the house with 132 of 234, ending DMK’s run (173 → 31).
- 2006DMK took the house with 96 of 234, ending AIADMK’s run (132 → 61).
- 2011AIADMK took the house with 150 of 234, ending DMK’s run (96 → 23).
- 2021DMK took the house with 133 of 234, ending AIADMK’s run (134 → 66).
- 2026TVK took the house with 108 of 234, ending DMK’s run (133 → 59).
Party identity
renames, splits and mergers along the way- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam saw All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam break away in 1972.
- All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam broke away from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 1972.
- Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.