By Admin 
The ruling DMK has released the first list of 164 candidates for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026. The names of Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi are included in the list of candidates. Most of the ministers, MLAs and senior leaders have again been nominated by the party.
From where will Stalin-Udhayanidhi contest elections?
DMK chief Stalin released the first list of candidates while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters. He said that he will once again contest elections from Kolathur seat. Apart from this, Udayanithi will also be a candidate again from Chepauk-Triplicane seat here. Ministers Durai Murugan (DMK General Secretary), K N Nehru, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Thangam Thenarasu, MA Subramaniam and EV Velu have been given another chance by the party.
Ticket to Panneerselvam from Bodinayakkanur
O Panneerselvam, who joined DMK after being expelled from AIADMK, has been made the candidate from the same Bodinayakkanur seat which he represented in the outgoing Assembly. After joining DMK, he resigned as MLA. Panneerselvam’s two associates Paul Manoj Pandian and R Vaithilingam have also been given tickets. Former minister V Senthil Balaji has been made the candidate from Coimbatore South.
Congress will contest on 28 seats
Earlier, after the seat sharing formula was decided between DMK and its allies, the assembly seats to be contested by Congress and other parties including Left parties, VCK and DMDK were also finalized. According to the agreement, DMK’s ally Congress will contest on 28 seats, which include Ponneri, Erode East, Vilavancode, Sivakasi and Karaikudi. Premalatha Vijayakanth-led DMDK has already won 10 seats, including Virudhachalam and Pallavaram.
VCK led by Thol Thirumavalavan has got eight seats, which include Kattumannarkoil, Panrutty and Tindivanam. CPI(M) has got Padmanabhapuram and Palani seats, while CPI will contest from other seats including Thalli and Bhavanisagar (reserved). Both the left parties have been given five seats each. The DMK has also earmarked seats for other allies, including the Vaiko-led MDMK, which will contest from four seats. DMK will contest elections on 164 seats.