Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election, 2006

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, 2006

← 2001 May 8, 2006 2011 →
All 234 seats in the Legislature of Tamil Nadu
First party Second party   Leader M. Karunanidhi J. Jayalalithaa Party DMK AIADMK Alliance DPA ADMK+ Leader's seat Chepauk Andipatti Seats won 163 69 Seat change 71 64 Popular vote 14,762,647 13,166,445 Percentage 44.75% 39.91% Swing 6.08% 10.18%
2006 election map (by constituencies)
Chief Minister before election J. Jayalalithaa AIADMK Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi DMK

J. Jayalalithaa
AIADMK

M. Karunanidhi
DMK

The thirteenth legislative assembly election, of Tamil Nadu was held on May 8, 2006. It was held for all 234 constituencies to elect the government in the state of for the following five years. The votes were counted three days later on May 11, 2006 and all the results were out by the end of the day. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led (DMK) front won the elections and its leader, M Karunanidhi was sworn in as Chief Minister. He served his fifth term. Since no single party could gain a majority of its own in this election, DMK formed a minority government with its allies, which is the first in the state since the 1952 election. 13th Assembly was instituted due to this election.

51659 polling stations were set up for electorate, that sized up to 46,603,827 eligible voters.

Tamil Nadu has a remarkable history of being dominated by the local parties, DMK or AIADMK, while the national parties have a strong presence in other states. The parties have resorted to forming alliances in the last few elections to take on each sides for power.

Striking changes in the alliances included the swap of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) from DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led alliance. While Dalit Panthers of India joined the AIADMK alliance, all other major parties in the fray such as Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Indian National Congress, CPM and Communist Party of India (CPI), aligned themselves with the DMK party.