The 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election was marked by extreme contrasts in victory margins. KR Periyakaruppan, a four-time MLA from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), lost to R Seenivasa Sethupathy of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) by just one vote, highlighting the election's competitive nature. In stark contrast, Edappadi K Palaniswami, leader of the opposition, secured the largest victory margin in the state at 98,110 votes, representing Edappadi for the fourth consecutive term. TVK emerged as a significant force, winning 43 seats with margins over 20,000 votes, while only three candidates achieved margins exceeding 90,000 votes. The election results indicate a closely contested political landscape, with nearly half of the 234 seats decided by margins below 10,000 votes, emphasizing the tight competition among parties.