How Government Forms

Election Day

April 23, 2026

Voters across 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu cast their ballots. Each constituency elects one MLA through first-past-the-post voting. EVMs and VVPATs are used for voting.

Vote Counting

May 4, 2026

Votes are counted at designated counting centres under the supervision of Returning Officers. Results are declared constituency by constituency. The Election Commission oversees the entire process.

Results Declared

The party or alliance winning 118 or more seats out of 234 secures a simple majority. This is the magic number needed to form the government.

Governor Invites Majority Leader

The Governor of Tamil Nadu invites the leader of the party or alliance that has the majority to form the government. The leader is asked to prove their majority on the floor of the Assembly.

Chief Minister Sworn In

The Chief Minister is sworn in by the Governor at Raj Bhavan, Chennai. The CM takes the oath of office and secrecy as per the Third Schedule of the Constitution.

Council of Ministers Appointed

The CM recommends a list of Ministers to the Governor. Ministers are drawn from the elected MLAs. The Council includes Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State.

Portfolio Allocation

The CM allocates portfolios (departments) to each Minister. Key portfolios include Finance, Home, Health, Education, and Public Works. The CM may retain important portfolios.