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The Times of India

Chennai / The Times of India

The 2K-vote gap: How 12 narrow losses cost TVK simple majority

Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam narrowly missed a majority, losing 12 seats by under 2,000 votes, including one by just 285 votes. Despite these close calls, TVK secured significant victories, with some margins exceeding 60,000 votes, demonstrating a strong debut performance.

6 May 2026 7:44 am
Their poles offloaded, 3 athletes from Tamil Nadu forced to change train

Tamil Nadu's pole vaulters encountered a troubling incident when Railway Protection Force officials at Rajahmundry carelessly cut the ropes holding their valuable poles to a train's windows. As a result, the poles tumbled onto the tracks, leaving the athletes no choice but to halt the train and salvage their equipment.

6 May 2026 6:02 am
R B Choudary: Tamil Cinema's Unsung Producer Who Championed New Talent

Ratanlal Bhagatram Choudary, known as RBC, became a major Tamil cinema producer without industry ties. He arrived from Rajasthan and built a business exporting films. RBC listened to stories, identified talent, and invested in filmmakers like Vikraman, Ezhil, Sasi, and Rajakumaran. He introduced Raghava Lawrence and shifted to family-oriented films. His legacy is built on vision, resilience, and generosity.

6 May 2026 12:11 am
Vijay's Victory: Is the Vaagai Flower a Symbol of Ancient Power or Modern Political Theater?

Tamil political tradition celebrates victory with sound and movement, a practice dating back to Sangam times. The vaagai flower, symbolizing triumph, was historically worn by victorious leaders and warriors, as seen in the epic Silappathikaram. This ancient custom continues to resonate in modern celebrations and is emblazoned on TVK's flag

6 May 2026 12:04 am
Another defeat puts Edappadi K Palaniswami on the ropes

Since Jayalalithaas passing, AIADMK has struggled to maintain unity and direction.

5 May 2026 9:42 pm
TVK has secured massive victory in its debut election without distributing cash to voters: Sengottaiyan

Speaking to reporters at Coimbatore International Airport, Sengottaiyan attributed the partys success to the immense love and support shown by the people of Tamil Nadu to TVK leader Vijay. He said the foundation of any growing movement lies in sacrifice.

5 May 2026 6:48 pm
Who is R Sabarinathan? Vijays drivers son secures Virugambakkam seat on TVK ticket

R Sabarinathan, son of actor-politician Vijay's long-time aide, secured a significant victory in the Virugambakkam constituency for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). His win, marked by an emotional viral video during the campaign, contributed to TVK's strong debut in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Sabarinathan expressed gratitude to Vijay for his political debut and the party leadership.

5 May 2026 2:30 pm
83,365 vs 83,364: 1 vote ends DMK stalwart's 20-year reign in Tiruppattur thriller

In a dramatic thinnest-of-thin razor finishes at the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency in Sivaganga district, one vote proved to be fatal for Tamil Nadu Co-operation Minister KR Periyakaruppan, ending his 20-year dominance.

5 May 2026 1:04 pm
Each vote is token of trust: MK Stalins first reaction after defeat, pledges strong opposition role

M K Stalin expressed gratitude to voters after the DMK-led alliances defeat in the recently concluded Assembly elections, calling each vote an invaluable token of trust. In a detailed statement and post on X, he highlighted that the alliance secured over 1.54 crore votes with a narrow 3.52% vote share gap from the winning side, and reaffirmed DMKs commitment to serve people both in power and opposition.

5 May 2026 12:34 pm
Tamil Nadu election results: TVK reels in the spoils

Actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK party has dramatically reshaped Tamil Nadu's political landscape, emerging as a strong third pole in its debut Assembly election. Winning 106 seats, TVK surpassed both the DMK (60 seats) and ADMK (47 seats), marking a significant shift from previous election results and altering the state's political dynamics.

5 May 2026 11:01 am
Hung, but high: TVKs debut with 34.9% vote share highest in Tamil Nadu history; will Stalin allies swing numbers?

Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu with 107 seats, falling just short of the majority. The outcome points to a hung assembly, prompting TVK to begin searching for allies to form a government.

5 May 2026 8:50 am
'Wanted to marry victim for property': UP man kills woman, her 4 children; shot dead in encounter

Prime accused Aamir Ahmad, suspected in the murder of Gaasiya Khaaton and her four children over a property dispute, was killed in a police encounter. Ahmad was allegedly pressuring Khaaton to marry him and murdered her and her children when she refused. He was apprehended while attempting to flee towards Nepal.

5 May 2026 7:45 am
Tamil Nadu election result: Vijay's TVK victory triggers meme fest

Tamil Nadu's election results sparked a meme frenzy, with humorists reimagining film scenes to comment on political shifts. Memes depicted party leaders preparing for power and humorously declared the end of certain political careers. Popular movie clips were repurposed to celebrate a party's significant rise in the state's political landscape.

5 May 2026 7:34 am
'Will poison your rice if you dont vote for Vijay': How TVK reeled in a tsunami of votes in Tamil Nadu

Actor Vijay's political campaign mirrored a film release, utilizing digital marketing strategies like trailers and guest appearances to engage voters. His network of fan clubs acted as virtual warriors, leveraging holograms, AI, and hyper-local messaging to attract first-time voters and their families, proving highly effective.

5 May 2026 7:27 am
Tamil Nadu assembly election results 2026: TVK shocks Dravidian giants, looks to form govt amidst fractured verdict

Tamil Nadu faces an unprecedented political landscape with a fractured mandate, as C Joseph Vijay's TVK emerges as the single largest party but falls short of a majority. The election has shattered the Dravidian duopoly, ushering in the possibility of a coalition government and significant post-poll negotiations.

5 May 2026 7:22 am
Tamil Nadu poll results: North, south, east, west-it's TVK wherever you look

In a stunning shift, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has transformed Tamil Nadu's political dynamics, relegating the DMK to the opposition role and leaving the AIADMK trailing in third place. This new political force has made substantial strides in regions traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties, especially shaking up DMK's influence in the northern districts and the south's 'thevar belt'.

5 May 2026 5:43 am
A star is born in Tamil Nadu politics: Quiet, introverted, persistent

Vijay's transformation from a shy child star to a perseverant cinematic icon is not just a tale of talent, but a narrative of determination that now propels him towards a political career. His formative years, filled with challenges and triumphs exemplified by the hit 'Poove Unakkaga,' reveal a spirit that refuses to wane.

5 May 2026 5:30 am
5 May 2026 3:56 am
Blockbuster debut! Vijay Tamil Nadus Gen-nayagan

Fans get a high when Vijay sings Pathaathu bottle naan kudikka, andaala konda cheers adikka (One bottle isnt enough for me, bring it to me in a drum to say cheers). The intoxication has now been translated into votes; the contrarian is suddenly the outlier.

4 May 2026 11:51 pm
Tamil Nadu election results: Stalin says he worked hard as CM beyond his strength

While thanking the voters for voting for the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), Stalin congratulated the winners.

4 May 2026 8:46 pm
TVK chief Vijay gave ticket to his drivers son, now hes on verge of winning in Virugambakkam

In a surprising debut, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate Sabarinathan R, son of the party chief's driver, is leading in Virugambakkam. This human-interest story highlights TVK's strong performance in its first assembly election, with the party showing significant leads across Tamil Nadu, challenging established political forces.

4 May 2026 4:43 pm
DMKs V Senthil Balaji clinches narrow victory in Coimbatore South

The TVK provided a formidable challenge, with its candidate V Senthilkumar nearly pulling off an upset by securing a massive 57,176 votes.

4 May 2026 4:39 pm
Tamil Nadu assembly election results 2026: Winners list from TVK

Early trends from Tamil Nadu Assembly seat counting indicate a significant surge for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay. The party emerged as a major force, briefly leading in over 100 constituencies and becoming the single largest party ahead of established players. Official results have begun to be declared for some seats.

4 May 2026 4:20 pm
TVK makes inroads into Madurai; ministers P Moorthy and Palanivel Thiagarajan trailing

Actor Vijay's TVK party is making a strong debut in Madurai's assembly elections. The party is leading in several key constituencies, including Madurai East and Madurai Central. Established parties DMK and AIADMK face unexpected challenges. TVK candidates are ahead of sitting ministers and incumbent MLAs. This election marks a significant shift in Madurai's political landscape.

4 May 2026 4:06 pm
TVK's Sengottaiyan wins in Gobichettipalayam

The result carried added significance as Sengottaiyan, a veteran leader with deep roots in the region, shifted from AIADMK to TVK, giving the contest unusual importance. His win suggested his personal influence remained strong and that voters in Gobichettipalayam transferred their trust to him despite his change in party affiliation.

4 May 2026 3:53 pm