DMK Unveils Candidate List for 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) officially released its comprehensive list of candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, scheduled to be held on April 23, 2026. The announcement was made by DMK President and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the party headquarters in Anna Arivalayam, Chennai. The party will directly contest 164 of the 234 Assembly constituencies across the state. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will be conducted in a single phase on April 23, 2026, with the counting of votes slated for May 4, 2026. The gazette notification for the elections was scheduled for March 30, 2026, with the last date for filing nominations on April 6, 2026. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 7, 2026, and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is April 9, 2026. The current term of the 234-member State Assembly ends on May 10, 2026. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has been renominated to contest from his traditional Kolathur constituency for the fourth consecutive time. His son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will also seek re-election from the Chepauk-Triplicane constituency, which he won in the 2021 elections. Many senior ministers and sitting MLAs have been retained, reflecting the party's confidence in their performance and electoral prospects. Notable figures such as Durai Murugan (Katpadi), K.N. Nehru, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Thangam Thennarasu, Ma Subramanian, and E.V. Velu are among those who have been renominated. The DMK has also introduced a significant number of new faces, with over 60 first-time candidates being fielded in various constituencies. This strategic move aims to infuse fresh energy into the party's electoral machinery while balancing experience with youth. Among the new candidates is Dr. V. Kokila Mani, a 26-year-old doctor, who will contest from the Avinashi constituency, making her one of the youngest candidates on the list. The list also demonstrates a focus on diverse representation, including 18 women candidates, 15 doctors, 29 lawyers, and 7 PhD scholars. Seat-sharing arrangements with alliance partners have also been finalized. The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) has allocated 70 seats to its allies. The Congress party will contest 28 seats, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) has been allotted 10 seats, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) will field candidates in 8 constituencies. Both the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) have been allotted 5 seats each. Other smaller allies such as the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) will contest 4 seats, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) 2 seats, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) 2 seats, Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (MJK) 1 seat, and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) 1 seat. Notably, 11 candidates from allied parties will contest under the DMK's iconic 'Rising Sun' symbol, bringing the total number of constituencies where the 'Rising Sun' symbol will be used to 175. In a significant political development, former Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam, who recently joined the DMK, has been fielded from the Bodinayakkanur constituency. Former minister V. Senthil Balaji has been shifted to Coimbatore South from his previous Karur constituency. While most sitting ministers were retained, some, like Mano Thangaraj, Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, and R. Gandhi, were notably denied tickets. However, R. Gandhi's son, Vinoth Gandhi, will contest from Ranipet. Following the announcement, Chief Minister Stalin stated that the party's election manifesto would be released on Sunday, March 29, 2026, and he would commence his election campaign from Monday, March 31, 2026. Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin is set to begin his campaign from April 1, and DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi from March 30. The total electorate for the upcoming elections stands at 5.67 crore voters across Tamil Nadu, with 2.19 lakh polling stations to be set up. This election marks a crucial period for democratic processes in India, with key state assembly elections influencing national-level politics. The release of candidate lists by major parties like DMK and AIADMK (which also released its lists) and new entrant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) signals the intensifying political battle in the state. The NDTV Profit article and other news sources confirm that this is a significant and timely development in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.

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