DMK-led INDIA Bloc sweeps victory in Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha Elections against BJP and AIADMK

However, BJP TN Chief Annamalai also reiterated on the party gaining more vote share to prepare for the state assembly polls scheduled for 2026.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP drew a blank in the state, while it won just one seat in the 2014 polls. The BJP's vote share in the state declined from 5.5 percent in 2014 to 3.67 percent in 2019.

Interestingly, as per ECI data, BJP's vote share in the state has touched 10.72%. To be sure, compared to 2019 and 2014, BJP contested separately in more constituencies in 2024.

Tamil Nadu went to the polls for the Lok Sabha elections on 19 April during the first phase to elect the 39 members of parliament.

The DMK is part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), which was formed on 18 July 2023. On 25 September 2023, the AIADMK withdrew from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance to form and lead the new alliance, AIADMK+.

For the first time this year, BJP was betting big on its own popularity with support from smaller caste-based parties like Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and TTV Dinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam.

In Tamil Nadu, INDIA bloc consists of DMK, Congress, Communist Party of India, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Indian Union Muslim League, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).

AIADMK led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami has joined hands with Puthiya Tamilagam, Social Democratic Party of India and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.

BJP’s long game for TN

In 2019, the DMK secured 33.5 percent of the votes and Congress got 12.7 percent. Meanwhile, the AIADMK’s vote share was 19.3 percent and BJP’s was 3.6 percent.

The national parties have tried their best to make connection with the local population to become relatable and sweep some vote share. In fact, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have held multiple rallies and roadshows in the state.

In 2014, the BJP managed to win one seat, Kanniyakumari , and helped its ally Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) win another.

Political experts have said that BJP’s vote share game is going strong as AIADMK has become weaker without its charismatic leader Jayalalithaa, who died in 2016.

The saffron party’s aim is not an immediate win but to emerge as the principal rival of the DMK over the longer term.

Eye on key constituencies in TN

Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai lost to DMK leader Ganapathy P Rajkumar and AIADMK’s Singai Ramachandran with a vote difference of more than 1.18 lakh votes.

Chennai: Chennai continued to be the DMK bastion, where all three constituencies Chennai South, Chennai North, and Chennai Central saw DMK winning over opponents. DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran won in the Chennai Central constituency for the fourth term term in the Lok Sabha polls. DMK’s Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, won from Chennai North. In Chennai South, DMK MP T Sumathi, also known as Thamizhachi Thangapandian won against BJP’s Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Thoothukudi: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi who was contesting from Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi constituency has won with over 3,00,00 lakh votes, defeating opponents S.D.R Vijayaseelan of NDA and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (AIADMK) Sivasami Velumani, as per data from ECI website.

Sriperumbudur: Old warhorse TR Baalu of the DMK won against G Premkumar, a doctor by profession, of the AIADMK and VN Venugopal of Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), an ally of the BJP. TR Baalu secured 4.87 lakh votes.

The Nilgiris: The turf of DMK leader A Raja's turf is a reserved seat where he won with a an vote difference of 2.40 lakh votes. Raja was facing BJP candidate D R Murugan who secured 2.32 lakh votes.