Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026SC/ST RepresentationReserved ConstituenciesTVKDMK
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results Show Limited SC/ST Representation Beyond Reserved Seats
Published: May 8, 2026
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The Tamil Nadu Assembly election results have shown that representation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) beyond reserved constituencies continues to remain limited. Among the four principal contenders in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, only one Scheduled Caste (SC) candidate, P. Viswanathan of the Congress, was elected from a general constituency, the Melur Assembly segment in Madurai district.
The 234-member House has 44 Assembly segments reserved for SCs, while two Assembly segments are reserved for STs. The TVK, which emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, performed strongly in reserved constituencies, winning 23 seats.
The DMK, which traditionally enjoyed strong support in reserved constituencies, managed to secure only nine seats, while the AIADMK won eight. The VCK, CPI, and CPI(M) also won seats in reserved constituencies.
The election results indicate a significant shift in the performance of parties in reserved constituencies compared to the 2021 Assembly election. The TVK has outperformed both the DMK and the AIADMK in reserved constituencies.
The immediate next steps will involve the formation of the new government, with the TVK emerging as the single largest party. The party is expected to stake its claim to form the government, while other parties will also take steps to respond to the election results.