Tamil Nadu Exit Poll Results LIVE: Stalin Plots DMK Revival as Instability Dodges AIADMK

EPS-OPS Govt Faces Challenge | Ideally, the Edappadi Palaniswami, O Panneerselvam government must win at least 10 seats to last comfortably till 2021.

If the DMK wins 21 of these assembly seats, it can stake claim to form the state government. The AIADMK, which still doesn’t have majority in the Assembly, has to win at least five of the 22 seats to remain in power. 

Meanwhile, in fray for the state Assembly bypolls were arch rivals AIADMK and DMK along with Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader T T V Dhinakaran, Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam and actor-director Seeman's Naam Tamizhar Katchi.

In 2014, AIADMK swept the Lok Sabha polls with 37 of 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, which is always known to vote as a bloc. This time, there are 38 seats in contention in Tamil Nadu since polling in Vellore constituency was cancelled due to voter bribery.

AIADMK Bid to Maintain Stronghold | The AIADMK will be looking to maintain its hold in the state. It has tried to form an alliance of seven parties by consolidating its caste base in every district. The AIADMK has tied up with parties such as the Vaniyar community-led Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in its bid to stay in power.

The results after counting on May 23 will be decisive for the regional politics, which has witnessed tumultous times post the AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa's demise. In the last two years, the ruling party saw a split within and an alliance with the BJP kindling negative sentiments against it.

Bypolls to 22 Assembly Seats | The state also witnessed bypolls to 22 Assembly constituencies, which gains importance as it will decide the course of future for the present EK Palaniswami government at the state. In the 234-member state assembly, the AIADMK has a strength of 113, excluding the Speaker.

Tamil Nadu, which accounts for the largest number of seats in South India, with 39 Lok Sabha seats, went to polls on April 18. This is the first time the state is witnessing the General Assembly polls without two of its tallest leaders M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa.