Elections in Tamil Nadu
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Elections in Tamil Nadu are conducted every five years to elect the State assembly and its share of members to the Lok Sabha. There are 234 assembly constituencies and 39 Lok Sabha constituencies. The state has conducted 15 assembly elections and 16 Lok Sabha elections since independence.
Assembly constituencies[]
Tamil Nadu has 234 assembly constituencies. The Chief Minister of the state is elected by legislators of the political party or coalition commanding an assembly majority, and serves a five-year term with a provision of re-election. The Governor is the head of state, but his or her role is largely ceremonial.
The Lok Sabha is the directly elected lower house of the Parliament of India. As of 2019 there have been seventeen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India. Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha constituencies which is supposed to go over 60 in 2026 delimitation a total Loksabha seats go up from 543 to 888.
Pre-Independence elections[]
Madras Presidency Legislative Council election[]
| Year | Election | Winning Party/Coalition | Leader | Elected Chief Minister (Party) | Opposition | Opposition Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920-1921 | First Presidency Council | Justice Party (India) | P. Theagaroya Chetty | A. Subbarayalu Reddiar (Justice Party) | Independents | n/a |
| 1923 | Second Presidency Council | Justice Party (India) | P. Theagaroya Chetty | Panagal Raja(Justice Party) | Anti-ministerial | |
| 1926 | Third Presidency Council | Swaraj Party | S. Srinivasa Iyengar | P. Subbarayan (Nonpartisan) | Justice Party (India) | Raja of Bobbili |
| 1930 | Fourth Presidency Council | Justice Party (India) | P. Munuswamy Naidu | P. Munuswamy Naidu (Justice Party) | Independent Nationalist Party | P. Subbarayan |
| 1934 | Fifth Presidency Council | Swaraj Party | Sathyamurthy | Raja of Bobbili (Justice Party) | Justice Party (India) | Raja of Bobbili |
Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly election[]
| Year | Election | Winning Party/Coalition | Chief Minister | Opposition | Opposition Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | First Assembly | Indian National Congress* | C. Rajagopalachari | Justice Party (India) | Raja of Bobbili |
| 1946 | Second Assembly | Indian National Congress | 1) T. Prakasam 2) Omandur Ramaswamy Reddiar 3) P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja |
All-India Muslim League | Muhammad Ismail |
Post-Independence elections[]
Madras State Legislative Assembly election[]
The Madras state was created in 1950 when India became a republic. In 1968, the name of Madras state was changed to Tamil Nadu.
| Year | Election | Winning Party/Coalition | Chief Minister |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | First Assembly | Indian National Congress* | 1) C. Rajagopalachari 2) K. Kamaraj |
| 1957 | Second Assembly | Indian National Congress | K. Kamaraj(2) |
| 1962 | Third Assembly | Indian National Congress | 1)K. Kamaraj(3) 2) M. Bakthavatsalam |
| 1967 | Fourth Assembly | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1) C.N. Annadurai 2) M. Karunanidhi |
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election[]
| Year | Election | Winning Party/Coalition | Resultant Chief Minister |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Fifth Assembly | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | M. Karunanidhi (2) |
| 1977 | Sixth Assembly | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | M. G. Ramachandran |
| 1980 | Seventh Assembly | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | M. G. Ramachandran (2) |
| 1984 | Eighth Assembly | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | M. G. Ramachandran (3) V. N. Janaki Ramachandran |
| 1989 | Ninth Assembly | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | M. Karunanidhi (3) |
| 1991 | Tenth Assembly | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | J. Jayalalithaa |
| 1996 | Eleventh Assembly | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | M. Karunanidhi (4) |
| 2001 | Twelfth Assembly | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | J. Jayalalithaa (2) O. Panneerselvam J. Jayalalithaa (3) |
| 2006 | Thirteenth Assembly | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam† | M. Karunanidhi (5) |
| 2011 | Fourteenth Assembly | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | J. Jayalalithaa (4) O. Panneerselvam (2) J. Jayalalithaa (5) |
| 2016 | Fifteenth Assembly | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | J. Jayalalithaa (6) O. Panneerselvam (3) Edappadi K. Palaniswami |
| 2021 | Sixteenth Assembly | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | M. K. Stalin (1) |
* : In 1952, no party could form a majority, which resulted in the first government in the state that was formed without a majority. † : Indicates a coalition government, since no single party could gain a majority of seats.
By-elections[]
| Election Year | Winning Party/Coalition | Seats Won - Seats Lost |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | DMK | 3-0 |
| 1999–2000 | DMK-MDMK | 3-2 |
| 2002–03 | AIADMK | 5-0 |
| AIADMK | 2-1 | |
| 2006–07 | DMK-INC | 2-0 |
| 2009–10 | DMK-INC | 9-0 |
| AIADMK[1] | 1-0 | |
| AIADMK[2] | 1-0 | |
| AIADMK[3] | 3-0 | |
| T. T. V. Dhinakaran - Independent[4] | 1-0 | |
| 2019-2020 | DMK[5] | 13-9 |
Madras State and Tamil Nadu[]
| Election Year | Assembly | Winning Party/Coalition | Chief Minister | Speaker | Leader of Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | First Assembly | INC | C. Rajagopalachari K. Kamaraj(1) |
J. Shivashanmugam Pillai (2) N. Gopala Menon |
T. Nagi Reddy P. Ramamurthi |
| 1957 | Second Assembly | INC | K. Kamaraj (2) | U. Krishna Rao | V. K. Ramaswami Mudaliar |
| 1962 | Third Assembly | INC | K. Kamaraj (3) M. Bakthavatsalam |
S. Chellapandian | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan |
| 1967 | Fourth Assembly | DMK | C. N. Annadurai M. Karunanidhi(1) |
S. P. Adithanar Pulavar K. Govindan |
P. G. Karuthiruman |
| 1971 | Fifth Assembly | DMK | M. Karunanidhi (2) | K. A. Mathiazagan Pulavar K. Govindan (2) |
R. Ponnappan Nadar |
| 1977 | Sixth Assembly | AIADMK | M. G. Ramachandran | Munu Adhi | M. Karunanidhi |
| 1980 | Seventh Assembly | AIADMK | M. G. Ramachandran (2) | K. Rajaram | M. Karunanidhi (2) K. S. G. Haja Shareef |
| 1984 | Eighth Assembly | AIADMK | M. G. Ramachandran (3) V. N. Janaki Ramachandran |
P. H. Pandian | O. Subramanian |
| 1989 | Ninth Assembly | DMK | M. Karunanidhi (3) | M. Tamilkudimagan | J. Jayalalithaa S. R. Eradha G. K. Moopanar |
| 1991 | Tenth Assembly | AIADMK | J. Jayalalithaa | R. Muthiah | S. R. Balasubramaniam |
| 1996 | Eleventh Assembly | DMK | M. Karunanidhi (4) | P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan | S. Balakrishnan |
| 2001 | Twelfth Assembly | AIADMK | J. Jayalalithaa (2) O. Panneerselvam J. Jayalalithaa (3) |
K. Kalimuthu | K. Anbazhagan |
| 2006 | Thirteenth Assembly | DMK (DPA) | M. Karunanidhi (5) | R. Avudaiappan | O. Panneerselvam J. Jayalalithaa (2) |
| 2011 | Fourteenth Assembly | AIADMK | J. Jayalalithaa (4) O. Panneerselvam (2) J. Jayalalithaa (5) |
D. Jayakumar P. Dhanapal |
Vijayakanth |
| 2016 | Fifteenth Assembly | AIADMK | J. Jayalalithaa (6) O. Panneerselvam (3) Edappadi K. Palaniswami |
P. Dhanapal (2) | M. K. Stalin |
| 2021 | Sixteenth Assembly | DMK | M. K. Stalin | M. Appavu | Edappadi K. Palaniswami |
Election Maps (1977-2016)[]
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State of Tamil Nadu தமிழ்நாடு மாநிலம் |
1977: AIADMK wins its debut election in a four-cornered contest and MGR is elected as CM for the first time.
1980: AIADMK wins again and MGR is elected as CM for the second time.
1984: AIADMK wins for the third straight time and MGR is elected as CM for the third time.
1989: DMK wins for the third time in a four-cornered contest and Karunanidhi is elected CM for the third time.
1991: AIADMK wins in a landslide and Jayalalithaa is elected CM for the first time.
1996: DMK wins in a landslide and Karunanidhi is elected CM for the fourth time.
2001: AIADMK wins with a grand alliance and Jayalalithaa is elected CM for the second time.
2006: DMK wins a majority government by alliance with coalition parties and Karunanidhi is elected CM for the fifth time.
2011: AIADMK wins and Jayalalithaa is elected CM for the third time.
2016: AIADMK wins and Jayalalithaa is elected CM for the Fourth time.
2021:DMK wins a majority government by alliance with coalition parties and Stalin is elected CM for the first time.
Lok Sabha elections[]
17 Lok Sabha elections have been contested in India since independence starting 1951. The elections held in Tamil Nadu are listed below.
| Year | Lok Sabha Election | Winning Party/Coalition | Total Seats | Seats won | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | First Lok Sabha | Indian National Congress | |||
| 1957 | Second Lok Sabha | Indian National Congress | |||
| 1962 | Third Lok Sabha | Indian National Congress | |||
| 1967 | Fourth Lok Sabha | United Front (DMK/SWA/CPM/ML)* | |||
| 1971 | Fifth Lok Sabha | Congress (Indira) alliance (DMK/INC/CPI/FBL/ML) | |||
| 1977 | Sixth Lok Sabha | Congress (Indira) alliance (AIADMK/INC/CPI)* | 39 | 34 | |
| 1980 | Seventh Lok Sabha | Congress (Indira) alliance (DMK/INC/ML) - 37/39, AIADMK - 2 seats | 39 | 37 | |
| 1984 | Eighth Lok Sabha | Congress alliance (AIADMK/INC) | 39 | 37 | |
| 1989 | Ninth Lok Sabha | Congress alliance (AIADMK/INC) | 39 | 38 | |
| 1991 | Tenth Lok Sabha | Congress alliance (AIADMK/INC) | 39 | 39 | |
| 1996 | Eleventh Lok Sabha | United Front (DMK/TMC/CPI) | 39 | 39 | |
| 1998 | Twelfth Lok Sabha | National Democratic Alliance (ADMK/BJP/PMK/MDMK/JP/TRC) - 30/39, DMK+TMC= 8-9 seats | 39 | 30 | |
| 1999 | Thirteenth Lok Sabha | National Democratic Alliance (DMK/BJP/PMK/MDMK/MADMK) - 26/39 seats | 39 | 26 | |
| 2004 | Fourteenth Lok Sabha | United Progressive Alliance (DMK/INC/PMK/MDMK/CPI/CPM) - 39/39 | 39 | 39 | |
| 2009 | Fifteenth Lok Sabha | United Progressive Alliance (DMK/INC/VCK) 27 out of 39; AIADMK - 10 seats | 39 | 27 | |
| 2014 | Sixteenth Lok Sabha | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (37 out of 39) | 39 | 37 | |
| 2019 | Seventeenth Lok Sabha | United Progressive Alliance (DMK 23/INC 8 seats/VCK/MDMK/CPI/CPM/IUML/IJK/KMDK) - 38/39, AIADMK - 1 seat | 39 | 38 | |
- Note: In 1967, DMK and its 25 newly elected MPs supported the Congress, under Indira Gandhi after the election.
- Note: Even though AIADMK supported and campaigned with Congress for the 1977 election, after the loss nationally, AIADMK and its newly elected 17 MPs supported Morarji Desai and the Janata Party and its alliance, giving them 20 seats (AIADMK, NCO) while the other 17 seats (INC, CPI) and 2 seats (DMK) were in the opposition with Indira Gandhi.
Election Maps (1977-2014)[]
1977: INC & AIADMK wins in a landslide, by grabbing 34 out of 39 seats in the state. INC loses the election nationally to the JP alliance. After the loss, AIADMK supported the JP alliance and AIADMK was part of the JP government under Morarji Desai.
1980: INC(I) & DMK wins in a landslide, by grabbing 37 out of 39 seats in the state. INC(I) wins the election nationally and DMK was part of the INC government under Indira Gandhi.
1984: INC & AIADMK wins in a landslide, by grabbing 37 out of 39 seats in the state. INC wins the election nationally and AIADMK was part of the INC government under Rajiv Gandhi.
1989: INC & AIADMK wins in a landslide, by grabbing 38 out of 39 seats in the state. INC loses the election nationally to the NF alliance, which includes the DMK who was part of the JD government under V.P. Singh.
1991: INC & AIADMK swept the state winning all 39 seats. INC wins the election nationally and AIADMK was part of the INC government under P. V. Narasimha Rao.
1996: Newly formed alliance UF, which includes DMK & TMC(M) swept the state winning all 39 seats. UF forms the government, with outside support from INC, nationally after BJP government failed to last in a few days and DMK-TMC(M)-CPI was part of the JD government under H. D. Deve Gowda.
1998: Newly formed alliance NDA, which includes BJP & AIADMK wins 30 out of 39 seats in the state. NDA wins the election nationally and AIADMK-PMK-MDMK-JP-TRC was part of the BJP government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
1999: New elections were called after AIADMK quits the NDA. NDA, which now includes DMK wins 26 out of 39 seats in the state. NDA wins the election nationally for the second straight-time and DMK-PMK-MDMK-MADMK was part of the BJP government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
2004: Newly formed alliance DPA, which includes INC alliance (DMK, PMK, MDMK) and Left Front swept the state winning all 39 seats. UPA wins the election nationally and DMK-PMK-MDMK was part of the INC government under Manmohan Singh, while the Left Front (CPI & CPI(M)) gave outside support.
2009: A shrunken UPA alliance, which includes INC & DMK wins 27 out of 39 seats in the state. UPA wins the election nationally for the second straight time and DMK-INC-VCK was part of the INC government under Manmohan Singh
2014: AIADMK forming no alliance wins in a landslide grabbing 37 out of 39 seats in a four-cornered race. NDA alliance won the remaining 2 seats. Since BJP under the leader Narendra Modi was able to get majority on its own, AIADMK and its 37 MPs were part of the opposition being the third largest party nationwide following BJP and INC.
2019: The DMK-led UPA wins 38 of 39 seats, with the AIADMK-led NDA winning one seat. The election was cancelled in one seat (Vellore).
See also[]
- Government of Tamil Nadu
- Local Body Election in Tamil Nadu
References[]
- ^ "Emphatic win for AIADMK in Sankarankoil".
- ^ "Jayalalithaa wins RK Nagar by-election".
- ^ "AIADMK wins all three by poll seats in Tamil Nadu".
- ^ "Dhinakaran wins R.K. Nagar bypoll 2017".
- ^ "Tamil Nadu bypoll results 2019: DMK adds 13 members to Assembly, AIADMK retains power with 22 wins". Firstpost. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elections in Tamil Nadu. |
- Tamilnadu Election Polls 2016
- Election Commission of India
- Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
- Indian Elections
- Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2011
 Elections in India | |
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