In Tamil Nadu, the political rivalry has predominantly been between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), with voter sentiments shifting based on anti-incumbency and regional factors. In the 2021 assembly elections, the DMK, led by MK Stalin, achieved a notable victory, winning 133 seats and securing a vote share of 37.7%. In contrast, the AIADMK won 66 seats with a vote share of 33.29%, resulting in a 4.41% gap that was pivotal in the power transition. The upcoming 2026 elections will see a three-way contest, with the DMK aiming for a consecutive term, the AIADMK striving for a comeback, and actor Vijay entering the political arena for the first time. Additionally, smaller parties like the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also played roles in shaping voter preferences, with the Congress obtaining approximately 4.27% and the BJP around 2.6% of the votes. This highlights the importance of plurality in Tamil Nadu's electoral outcomes, where a party can gain significant legislative power without achieving an outright majority.