Voting for the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly started at 7 am on Tuesday. 65.11% voter turnout was recorded till 7:10 pm in the state, reported ANI. Currently held by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) with 135 seats, the term of the previous legislative assembly will end on May 24, 2021. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is the main opposition party with 88 seats.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam (OPS) will have to prove their position after the sudden death of J Jayalalitha in 2016. These elections are important for MK Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) too. After the death of his father M Karunanidhi, he will have to establish his position within his family and the party as the rightful heir.

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DMK has formed an alliance with Congress, CPM, CPI, MDMK, IUML, MMK, AIFB and VCK. Meanwhile, BJP is looking to enter the southern state with AIADMK. Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has also entered the fray with TTV Dhinakaran’s The Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam (AMMK). Owaisi-Dhinakaran alliance can corner some Muslim votes and affect DMK.

Veteran actor Kamal Hasan, who entered politics with his Makkal Needhi Maiam party, is also contesting the polls from Coimbatore South.

There are 6.26 crore electors in the state, including 3.18 crore women, 3.08 crore men and over 7,200 persons from the third gender. as per the Election Commission of India.

In 2016, Tamil Nadu recorded 74.26% polling, according to the Election Commission.