Tamil Nadu Elections 2026: Poll War Amid High Turnout Hopes And Key Battles Across Constituencies

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:03]images. So of EPA is casting his vote and speaking exclusively to India today.

[00:00:08]So that's the conversation that's just coming up. Let's go across to it.

[00:00:34]Please, please, please.

[00:00:41]>> You have to give it to our reporters.

[00:00:43]You know, all of that. Sagai trying very, very hard to get EPS to say a word or two about the electoral battle. But clearly EPS saying that look, I've spoken to the media. That's about it.

[00:00:55]But we're going to continue getting you all those reactions. Our reporters are really at it in that heat. They're trying to ensure that every single one of the big political players speaks to us here on India today. Gives you a sense of what they have to say about this election, about how important it is for each one of the big players including EPS. Many would say that this is the most important election of his career so far. Let's get you the reaction.

[00:01:31]confident.

[00:01:41]Okay, apologies. Uh we'll get you that full reaction from EPS in just a bit, but the brief reaction that's come in is that we're 100% confident of a win. for the NDA and the AIADMK joining hands with the BJP means essentially that the AIADMK is counting on the fact that with a larger alliance they're able to kind of spread themselves out across Tabernado. There is yes a TV factor but there are several others also involved in the sense that you've got the PMK with the AIADMK. The PMK in North Tabernado will be able to bring in a lot of those votes as well for uh the AIADMK and for the alliance in North So it's with that kind of an alliance break up that the IDMK is really counting on ensuring that they better their 2021 tally.

[00:02:34]Okay. So those are some of the images on your screens of superstar Ajit from earlier this morning being one of the first to cast his word before the crowds really build up. There was quite a bit of chaos irrespective of that. This is from earlier of EPS casting his photo.

[00:02:48]We'll get you his detailed reaction in just a bit. But this is on India today.

[00:02:53]Our rolling coverage of the Tamil Nadu we day of election day, voting day. 234 constituencies up for grabs. Over 4,000 candidates in the frey and the people are finally having their say after what's been a high voltage campaign.

[00:03:08]We're standing by also for images now of the likes of Rajnik Khan also coming out to cast his vote. That's El Murugan who is fighting from Ainashi. Union Minister who's been brought down from Delhi by the BJP to fight the election in Ainashi. Very interesting election by the way in Ainashi very close to Kimbatur. El Murugan is up against two 28-year-old women. 28-year-old Gokulani of the DMK is a firsttime candidate.

[00:03:34]She's a doctor who's in fact been given a ticket by the DMK. And then the TV also has fielded a 28-year-old Let's cut across live.

[00:03:46]How do you see how confident?

[00:04:09]Okay. So, that's uh that's a brief reaction. that's coming in from EPS to India today where Sagaya asked him uh about how confident he is, how is the AIADMK doing. He says the AIA DMK alliance will perform very well.

[00:04:25]Remember there's a lot of back and forth uh in the NDA. A lot of speculation at least about whether the BJP would endorse Edipati Pariswami as the CM candidate and since then they very much have. They've repeatedly said that under the leadership of EPS, under the leadership of AIADMK, we will move ahead and we will work in Tamil Nadu. So let's be very clear that the BJP plays second fiddle in Tamil Nadu to the AADMK. It's the AIADMK that's leading this alliance.

[00:04:53]It's EPS who is the face. But on your screens, more leaders coming in to cast their vote. That's El Morgan. I was telling you about him uh fighting in Ainashi constituency. His vote however is in Chennai. But the BJP has made it very clear that all union ministers all those Delhi based leaders will also be brought back to the state when there is a need. It's a constant formula that they have used and in Tamil Nadu no different for El Murugan. This is a battle that goes beyond just any electoral performance but also about proving his metal as a Rajya Saba MP to also ensure that he can win an election for the BJP and that too at a time in Ainashi where he's up against two newcomers, two 28-year-old women. So it's a very interesting battle. I remember when I caught up with him in Ainashi and I told him, "Look, you're fighting against two 28-year-old women, two young women. How do you feel?" He says, "I'm not old either." Let's cut across to that reaction.

[00:05:54]everyone else to do it.

[00:06:04]Morgan suggesting that you see at the polling station change and then it's okay. That's Murugan Union Minister BJP candidate of Ainachi urging everyone to come out plain simple message come out cast your vote but also saying and we've been seeing quite a bit of buzz over this that there's huge crowds cues at polling stations great to see and hopefully that will reflect in the voter turnout but there's already all kinds of uh messaging and political parties trying to read into it to suggest that look this is a mandate for us I'll just ask everyone to hold their horses it's just been about one hour into polling right now in Tamadada. way way too early to talk about which way the wind is blowing whether it's a reflection of change of constant we don't know any of that just yet but hoping that everyone comes out cast their vote in a state like Tamil Nadu so literate so progressive the fact that we see a voter turnout of just about 70% simply doesn't cut it and hopefully uh as a result of sir and other factors you're going to see those numbers get boosted up get padded up and you will see a better water turnout This time around,