What Madurai Central could demonstrate is something with implications that travel well beyond Tamil Nadu.

3 min read May 4, 2026 11:13 AM IST First published on: May 4, 2026 at 10:55 AM IST

What began as a curiosity has, by mid-morning, turned into a shock. As counting crossed the first hour, early trends suggested not just a disruption but a rupture in Tamil Nadu’s long-set political order. Actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), once treated as an unpredictable third force, was leading in a startling number of constituencies – 50 seats by 10 am, according to Election Commission trends. Minutes later, by 10.18 am, that figure had surged to 79 leads.…