COIMBATORE: In a nail-biting finish to one of the state's most closely watched contests, DMK candidate V Senthil Balaji emerged victorious in the Coimbatore South constituency on Monday. After a tense 20 rounds of counting, Balaji secured his seat with a final margin of 1,991 votes.
Final Vote Tally
The final vote count after Round 20 was as follows:
- V. Senthil Balaji (DMK): 59,167 votes
- V Senthilkumar (TVK): 57,176 votes
- Amman Arjunan (AIADMK): 31,236 votes
- Perarivalan (NTK): 5,017 votes
TVK's Strong Challenge
The debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) provided a formidable challenge, with its candidate V Senthilkumar nearly pulling off an upset by securing a massive 57,176 votes. The party, led by actor Vijay, emerged as a formidable force in Tamil Nadu politics, pushing both the DMK and AIADMK to the margins in this constituency.
AIADMK and NTK Performance
AIADMK, which previously held strong influence in the region, saw its candidate Amman Arjunan finish third with 31,236 votes. The NTK candidate Perarivalan garnered 5,017 votes, reflecting a fragmented opposition.
Personal and Political Comeback
This victory marks a significant personal and political comeback for Senthil Balaji, who successfully defended the DMK's interests in a traditionally difficult urban terrain against a surging third-party challenge. The narrow margin underscores the shifting political dynamics in Tamil Nadu.
Election Context
The Coimbatore South result is part of broader trends in the 2026 elections, with TVK making inroads in several constituencies. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee trailed behind Suvendu Adhikari after the second round in Bhabanipur, while the BJP appeared poised to oust Mamata in Bengal and retain Assam.
For more updates on the 2026 election results, including live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, and party-wise trends for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, stay tuned to Times of India.
