The All India Congress Committee (AICC) announced 27 candidates for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Friday. Among the notable nominees, Tamil Nadu Congress PCC chief K Selvaperunthagai will contest from the Sriperumbudur Assembly Constituency, and former Member of Parliament Dr A Chella Kumar will stand from the Krishnagiri Assembly Constituency.
Other selections include Durai Chandrasekar from Ponneri (SC), Gopinath Palaniyappar from Erode (East), and Rama Karumanickam from Tiruvadana. The Central Election Committee chose the candidates after careful consideration.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its list of 27 candidates following negotiations within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP's candidate list for the April 23, 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has caused surprise within the state's political circles, as K Annamalai, widely expected to lead, is absent from the roster.
Senior leaders such as Tamilisai Soundararajan (Mylapore), Vanathi Srinivasan (Coimbatore North), and Union Minister L Murugan (Avinashi) have been fielded; however, Annamalai's name is missing. Annamalai has made notable contributions in promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies and party projects across Tamil Nadu. BJP leadership including Home Minister Amit Shah has frequently expressed the intention to utilise Annamalai's organisational skills in the party's national structure.
Tamil Nadu will hold polls in a single phase on April 23, covering 234 constituencies. Vote counting is scheduled for May 4. The current assembly tenure ends on May 10.
The main contest is expected between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes DMK, Congress, and allied parties, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) alongside BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK).