DMK wins only 59 of 164 seats in Tamil Nadu polls, 15 ministers defeated
Synopsis
In a stunning reversal, the DMK has been swept out of power in Tamil Nadu, winning just 59 of 164 seats it contested directly. At least 15 ministers — including the Finance and Health ministers — lost their seats, and even the Assembly Speaker was defeated. TVK's dramatic rise has redrawn the state's political map in one of Tamil Nadu's most consequential elections in decades.
Key Takeaways
The DMK won only around 59 of 164 constituencies contested, slipping into the Opposition.
At least 15 senior ministers were defeated, including Finance Minister P.T.R.
Palanivel Thiagarajan and Health Minister M.
Stalin and the Assembly Speaker were also among those defeated.
Minister Periyakaruppan lost Tiruppattur by just one vote in the contest's most dramatic result.
Udhayanidhi Stalin was among the few prominent DMK leaders to retain his seat, winning Chepauk by over 7,300 votes .
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) 's surge is widely seen as the decisive factor, disrupting decades of DMK-AIADMK alternation.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has suffered a sweeping electoral defeat in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, winning only around 59 of the 164 constituencies it contested directly and slipping into the Opposition. The outcome marks one of the most significant reversals for the party in recent memory, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, several senior ministers, and even the Assembly Speaker among those defeated.
The polls witnessed a fierce three-cornered contest involving the DMK, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). A strong anti-incumbency wave, amplified by TVK's remarkable surge, eroded the DMK's dominance across the state.
High-Profile Ministerial Defeats
The scale of losses among the cabinet was striking. Health Minister M. Subramanian was defeated in Saidapet by nearly 28,500 votes, while School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi lost in Tiruverumbur. Minister T.R.B. Rajaa was defeated in Mannargudi, and Minister Moorthy lost Madurai East by over 16,500 votes.
Finance Minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan faced an unexpected defeat in Madurai Central, where a TVK candidate emerged victorious in a multi-cornered contest. Veteran leader Durai Murugan lost Katpadi by more than 7,600 votes, while Minister Muthusamy was defeated in Erode West by over 22,000 votes.
K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran lost in Aruppukkottai and Thangam Thennarasu suffered defeat in his constituency. Ministers Nassar (Avadi), Mathivendhan (Rasipuram), R. Rajendran (Salem North), Gandhi (Ranipet), and Saminathan (Kangeyam) were also among those who lost. In Alandur, T.M. Anbarasan was defeated by a margin exceeding 25,000 votes.
Perhaps the most dramatic result came from Tiruppattur, where Minister Periyakaruppan lost by just a single vote — underscoring the intensely competitive nature of the election.
DMK Leaders Who Held On
Despite the widespread rout, a section of the DMK leadership managed to retain their seats. Udhayanidhi Stalin won from Chepauk with a margin of over 7,300 votes, while Minister Sekarbabu secured victory in Harbour. K.N. Nehru retained Tiruchirappalli West, and I. Periyasamy registered a strong win in Athoor.
Chakrapani won from Oddanchatram with a comfortable margin, while E.V. Velu narrowly held Tiruvannamalai. Ministers M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Meyyanathan, C.V. Ganesan, and K. Chezhiyan also secured victories, along with Anita Radhakrishnan in Tiruchendur and Raghupathi, Sivashankar, and Rajakannappan in their respective constituencies.
TVK's Surge Reshapes Tamil Nadu Politics
The emergence of TVK as a potent electoral force has significantly altered traditional voting patterns in Tamil Nadu, eroding the dominance of both the DMK and the AIADMK simultaneously. This is a structural shift rather than a cyclical one — TVK appears to have drawn support from across demographic lines, disrupting the two-party alternation that had defined the state's politics for decades.
Notably, the scale of cabinet-level defeats — at least 15 senior ministers losing their seats — is rare in Tamil Nadu's electoral history and signals a deep disconnect between the outgoing government and the electorate.
What Comes Next for the DMK
The DMK now prepares to assume the role of the principal Opposition after its term in power, a significant comedown for a party that had won a commanding majority in the previous cycle. The party faces the twin challenge of rebuilding its organisational base while navigating internal questions about leadership and strategy. With Udhayanidhi Stalin among the few high-profile survivors, the results are likely to intensify conversations about the next generation of DMK leadership.
The results mark a decisive shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, and how the DMK responds in Opposition will define its prospects in future electoral contests.
Point of View
And the simultaneous weakening of both the DMK and AIADMK suggests voters were not simply switching sides but actively seeking a third option. The loss of at least 15 ministers, including the Finance Minister, in a single election is an organisational catastrophe that cannot be explained by candidate-level factors alone. The DMK's challenge now is not just electoral recovery but ideological repositioning in a landscape where TVK has claimed the anti-establishment space the DMK itself once occupied.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seats did the DMK win in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections?
The DMK won only around 59 of the 164 constituencies it contested directly, a dramatic fall that pushed the party into the Opposition. The result represents one of the party's worst electoral performances in recent history.
Which DMK ministers lost in the Tamil Nadu election?
At least 15 ministers were defeated, including Finance Minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan in Madurai Central, Health Minister M. Subramanian in Saidapet, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in Tiruverumbur, and veteran leader Durai Murugan in Katpadi, among others.
What role did TVK play in the Tamil Nadu election results?
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as a major electoral force, disrupting the traditional DMK-AIADMK two-party contest. TVK's surge is widely credited with splitting the vote and enabling defeats of several senior DMK ministers across the state.
Did any DMK leaders win in the Tamil Nadu elections?
Yes, a section of the DMK leadership retained their seats. Udhayanidhi Stalin won from Chepauk by over 7,300 votes, K.N. Nehru retained Tiruchirappalli West, and ministers including Sekarbabu, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, C.V. Ganesan, and K. Chezhiyan also won.
What was the closest result in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election?
The closest contest was in Tiruppattur, where Minister Periyakaruppan lost by just a single vote, making it one of the most dramatic results of the entire election.
