Elections in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu are conducted every five years to elect members to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and members of parliament to the Lok Sabha. There are 234 assembly constituencies and 39 Lok Sabha constituencies. The state has conducted 17 assembly elections and 18 Lok Sabha elections since independence.
The governor of Tamil Nadu is the ceremonial head of the state. However, it is the chief minister of Tamil Nadu who is elected as the leader of the party or political alliance having a majority in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The chief minister will be the leader of the executive branch of the government of Tamil Nadu. The chief minister is the chief adviser to the governor of Tamil Nadu and the head of the state council of ministers.
Elections The Election Commission of India (ECI) is responsible for monitoring and administering the elections for the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People) of the Parliament and the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The ECI appoints the chief electoral officer of Tamil Nadu, an I.A.S. officer who oversees state-level election matters.
The Tamil Nadu Election Commission is the state body of Tamil Nadu that is enacted under the provisions of the constitution and is responsible for monitoring and administering the elections for local government in Tamil Nadu. This body is responsible for ensuring elections are free and fair, without any bias.
Elections ensure the conduct of members pre-elections, during elections, and post-elections is as per statutory legislation.
The election commission handles all election-related disputes. If the laws enacted to deal with the given situation in conducting elections are silent or do not make adequate provisions, the Madras High Court has ruled that the Election Commission has residual powers to act appropriately under the constitution.
Types of elections Elections in Tamil Nadu include elections for: Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Members of local governance bodies (municipal bodies and panchayats) A bye-election is held when the elected member of a particular constituency dies, resigns, or is disqualified.
Rajya Sabha elections Members of parliament in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) from Tamil Nadu are not directly elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of the state but by the members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Candidates who win the Rajya Sabha elections are called "Members of Parliament" and hold their seats for six years. The house meets in the Rajya Sabha Chamber of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi on matters relating to the creation of new laws or removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of India. Elections take place to elect 18 members from Tamil Nadu.
Lok Sabha elections Members of parliament in the Lok Sabha (House of the People) from Tamil Nadu are directly elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of the state from a set of candidates who stand in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of India can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the Lok Sabha elections are called "Members of Parliament" and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the president of India on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Lok Sabha Chamber of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi on matters relating to the creation of new laws or removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of India. Elections take place once every five years to elect 39 members from Tamil Nadu. Lok Sabha election results
History of Lok Sabha elections Colour key for parties
LOK SABHA ELECTIONSLok SabhaTotal SeatsFirstSecondThirdPolitical partySeatsPercentage of votesPolitical partySeatsPercentage of votesPolitical partySeatsPercentage of votes1st75Indian National Congressrowspan=3 3536.39%Independentrowspan=2 1523.15%Communist Party of Indiarowspan=3 88.95%2nd41Indian National Congress3146.52%Independent839.77%Communist Party of India210.06%3rd41Indian National Congress3145.26%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam718.64%Communist Party of India210.24%4th39Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=2 2535.78%Swatantra Party69.16%Communist Party of India (Marxist)46.85%5th39Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam2335.25%Indian National Congressrowspan=2 912.51%Communist Party of India45.43%6th39All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1730.04%Indian National Congress1422.27%Indian National Congress (Organisation)317.67%7th39Indian National Congress (Indira)2031.62%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1623.01%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam225.38%8th39Indian National Congressrowspan=3 2540.51%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=3 1218.36%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam225.90%9th39Indian National Congress2739.86%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1117.12%Communist Party of India12.04%10th39Indian National Congress2842.57%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1118.10%Vacant11th39Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)2027.00%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=2 1725.63%Communist Party of India22.33%12th39All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1825.89%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam520.08%Pattali Makkal Katchirowspan=3 46.05%13th39Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=3 1223.13%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1025.68%Pattali Makkal Katchi58.21%14th39Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1624.60%Indian National Congress1014.40%Pattali Makkal Katchi56.71%15th39Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1825.09%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam922.88%Indian National Congress815.03%16th39All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam3744.92%Bharatiya Janata Party15.56%Pattali Makkal Katchi14.51%17th39Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=2 2433.52%Indian National Congressrowspan=2 812.62%Communist Party of India22.40%18th39Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam2226.93%Indian National Congress910.67%Communist Party of India (Marxist)22.52%
Legislative Assembly elections Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly are directly elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of the state from a set of candidates who stand in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of India can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the legislative assembly elections are called "Members of the Legislative Assembly" and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the governor of Tamil Nadu on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Assembly Chamber of the Chief Secretariat in Chennai on matters relating to the creation of new laws or removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of Tamil Nadu. Elections take place once every five years to elect 234 members to the legislative assembly. The leader of the majority party or alliance takes oath as chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Legislative Assembly election results
History of Legislative Assembly elections Colour key for parties
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONSAssemblyTotal SeatsFirstSecondThirdPolitical partySeatsPercentage of votesPolitical partySeatsPercentage of votesPolitical partySeatsPercentage of votes1st375Indian National Congressrowspan=3 15234.88%Communist Party of India6213.18%Independent6223.75%2nd205Indian National Congress15145.34%Independent4844.62%Communist Party of India47.40%3rd206Indian National Congress13946.14%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam5027.10%Swatantra Partyrowspan=2 67.82%4th234Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=2 13740.69%Indian National Congress5141.10%Swatantra Party205.30%5th234Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam18448.58%Indian National Congress (Organisation)1534.99%Communist Party of India82.32%6th234All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=3 13030.36%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=2 4824.89%Indian National Congress2717.50%7th234All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam12938.75%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam3722.10%Indian National Congress (Indira)3120.92%8th234All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam13237.03%Indian National Congress6116.28%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam2429.34%9th234Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam15033.18%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam2921.77%Indian National Congress2619.83%10th234All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam16444.39%Indian National Congress6015.19%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam222.46%11th234Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam17342.07%Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)399.30%Communist Party of India82.12%12th234All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam13231.44%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam3130.92%Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)236.73%13th234Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam9626.46%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam6132.64%Indian National Congress348.38%14th234All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamrowspan=2 15038.40%Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam297.88%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam2322.39%15th234All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam13641.06%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam8931.86%Indian National Congressrowspan=2 86.42%16th234Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam13337.70%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam6633.29%Indian National Congress184.27%17th234Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam10834.92%Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam5924.19%All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam4721.21%
Bye-election When an elected member of the Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, or Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly left their office vacant before their term ended, a bye-election was conducted to find a suitable replacement to fill the vacant position.
Common reasons for bye-elections: Resignation of the sitting M.P. or an M.L.A. Death of the sitting M.P. or an M.L.A.
There are also other reasons that occur when the incumbent is disqualified for being ineligible to continue in office (criminal conviction, failure to maintain a minimum level of attendance in the office due to election irregularities found later, or when a candidate wins more than one seat and has to vacate one).
See also Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha Elections in India Parliament of India History of Tamil Nadu Politics of Tamil Nadu Government of Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Local Body Election in Tamil Nadu
References
External links
Elections in India Election Commission of India Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu State Election Commission