Election

Morley-Minto reforms

The Indian Councils Act 1909 introduced elections to the legislative councils, including Madras, and admitted Indians to the Madras executive council.

Government of India Act 1919 introduces dyarchy

Based on the Montagu-Chelmsford Report, the Act introduced dyarchy in the provinces, including Madras, transferring some subjects to elected ministers.

Justice Party wins first Madras Legislative Council election

The Justice Party won the first election held under the Montagu-Chelmsford dyarchy reforms in the Madras Presidency.

Madras grants voting rights to women

The Madras Legislative Council resolved to extend the franchise to women, among the first provinces in British India to do so.

Justice Party wins second council election

The Justice Party retained power in the 1923 Madras Legislative Council election despite internal dissent.

S. Srinivasa Iyengar presides over Gauhati Congress

S. Srinivasa Iyengar, a Swarajist leader from Madras, was president of the Indian National Congress at its Gauhati session.

P. Subbarayan forms independent ministry

After the Swaraj Party won the 1926 election but declined office, P. Subbarayan formed a ministry of independents with nominated support.

Justice Party returns to power under B. Munuswamy Naidu

The Justice Party won the 1930 election, boycotted by the Congress, and B. Munuswamy Naidu became Premier.

M. C. Rajah and the Rajah-Moonje Pact

Dalit leader M. C. Rajah of Madras agreed with B. S. Moonje to reserved seats within joint electorates for the depressed classes.

Swarajists largest party in 1934 Madras council election

The Swaraj Party won the most seats in the last dyarchy-era Madras council election but refused office; the Raja of Bobbili stayed on.

Congress wins 1937 Madras Presidency election

The Indian National Congress won a large majority in the first Madras Legislative Assembly election under provincial autonomy, routing the Justice Party.

Muthuramalinga Thevar defeats the Raja of Ramnad

As the Congress candidate, Muthuramalinga Thevar beat the Raja of Ramnad in Ramanathapuram in the 1937 election.

Kamaraj elected Virudhunagar municipal chairman while in jail

While imprisoned for opposing war contributions, K. Kamaraj was elected chairman of the Virudhunagar municipality.

1946 Madras Presidency election

The Congress won a majority in the 1946 Madras Legislative Assembly election, ending the period of Governor's rule.

Muhammad Ismail leads the Muslim League opposition in Madras

M. Muhammad Ismail, later called Quaid-e-Millath, became Leader of the Opposition in the Madras Legislative Assembly.

First general election; Rajaji forms government

After the first general election left Congress short of a majority, C. Rajagopalachari was sworn in as Chief Minister of Madras State.

French India transferred de facto to India after the Kizhoor referendum

After the Kizhoor referendum, Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe passed de facto from France to the Indian Union.

DMK contests its first election

Won by Kamaraj's Congress, the 1957 Assembly election was the first in which the DMK took part after its founding.

Ramnad (Mudukulathur) riots

Violent caste clashes broke out in Ramanathapuram district between Thevar and Dalit communities after the 1957 elections.

Rajaji founds the Swatantra Party

Leaving the Congress, C. Rajagopalachari launched the Swatantra Party, which went on to ally with the DMK against Congress.

DMK becomes main opposition in 1962 election

Congress under Kamaraj retained power in 1962, while the DMK won 50 seats to become the principal opposition party.

Death of Muthuramalinga Thevar

Forward Bloc leader U. Muthuramalinga Thevar, an influential figure in southern Tamil Nadu, died on the eve of his birthday.

Kamaraj becomes Congress president and 'kingmaker'

As president of the Indian National Congress, K. Kamaraj guided the selection of two Prime Ministers.

Annadurai's rupee-a-measure rice scheme

The first DMK government tried to supply rice at one rupee a measure, an election promise made during an acute rice shortage.

M. G. Ramachandran shot by M. R. Radha

Actor M. R. Radha shot M. G. Ramachandran at his home weeks before the 1967 election; MGR survived after surgery.

DMK wins the 1967 Assembly election

A DMK-led alliance defeated the Congress, ending Congress rule in Madras State; Kamaraj lost his own seat.

Kamaraj loses his seat to student leader P. Seenivasan

In the 1967 election, Congress president K. Kamaraj was defeated in Virudhunagar by the young DMK candidate P. Seenivasan.

DMK wins 184 seats in the 1971 election

The DMK, allied with Indira Gandhi's Congress, won a landslide in the first Assembly election held under the name Tamil Nadu.

AIADMK wins the Dindigul Lok Sabha by-election

K. Maya Thevar won the Dindigul by-election, giving the newly formed AIADMK its first electoral victory.

Congress-AIADMK alliance wins 34 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu

In the post-Emergency Lok Sabha election, the Congress-AIADMK-CPI alliance won 34 of Tamil Nadu's 39 seats even as the Janata Party took power nationally.

AIADMK wins assembly election, M. G. Ramachandran becomes Chief Minister

The AIADMK-led alliance won the 1977 assembly election and M. G. Ramachandran was sworn in as Chief Minister.

DMK-Congress alliance wins 37 of 39 Lok Sabha seats

The Congress (Indira) and DMK alliance won 37 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats, a setback for M. G. Ramachandran's ruling AIADMK.

AIADMK re-elected, MGR sworn in for second term

Months after the DMK and Congress swept the Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK won the May 1980 assembly election, bringing MGR back as Chief Minister.

MGR falls ill and is treated in the United States

Kidney failure put Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran in hospital, and he later had a kidney transplant in New York.

AIADMK wins 1984 election while MGR is in hospital abroad

Contesting from a hospital in the United States, MGR led the AIADMK-Congress alliance to victory in the 1984 assembly election.

DMK returns to power, Karunanidhi Chief Minister again

After 13 years in opposition, the DMK won the January 1989 assembly election and M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the third time.

Congress-AIADMK alliance wins 38 of 39 Lok Sabha seats

Months after losing the state election, the reunited AIADMK and its ally the Congress won 38 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.

Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed by an LTTE suicide bomber at an election rally in Sriperumbudur.

Congress-AIADMK alliance sweeps all 39 Lok Sabha seats

In the election during which Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at Sriperumbudur, the Congress-AIADMK alliance won all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalithaa becomes Chief Minister for the first time

The AIADMK-Congress alliance swept the June 1991 election and J. Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister, the youngest in the state's history at the time.

G. K. Moopanar forms Tamil Maanila Congress

Opposing the Congress's alliance with the AIADMK, G. K. Moopanar led a breakaway to form the Tamil Maanila Congress.

Rajinikanth backs the DMK-TMC alliance

Staying out of politics himself, Rajinikanth warned that 'even God cannot save' Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa's party won again, and endorsed the DMK-TMC alliance.

DMK-TMC alliance wins 1996 election

The DMK-TMC alliance won 221 of 234 assembly seats and all 39 Lok Sabha seats; M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the fourth time.

AIADMK allies with the BJP; NDA wins 30 seats in Tamil Nadu

Breaking its long alliance with the Congress, the AIADMK joined the BJP-led front, which won 30 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.

Coimbatore serial bombings

Twelve bombs exploded across Coimbatore, killing 58 people, ahead of a campaign meeting by BJP leader L. K. Advani.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi contests elections for the first time

The Dalit Panthers movement led by Thol. Thirumavalavan, later the VCK, entered electoral politics for the first time in 1999.

AIADMK withdraws support, Vajpayee government falls

The AIADMK's withdrawal of support led to the Vajpayee government losing a confidence vote by a single vote.

DMK allies with the BJP; NDA wins 26 seats in Tamil Nadu

With the AIADMK out of the NDA, the DMK allied with the BJP for the first time and the NDA won 26 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.

AIADMK alliance wins the 2001 Assembly election

The AIADMK-led alliance defeated the DMK government and J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam becomes President of India

Rameswaram-born scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, backed by both the BJP and the Congress, took office as the 11th President of India.

DMK-led alliance wins all 39 Lok Sabha seats

The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance with the Congress and Left won every Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; the AIADMK-BJP alliance won none.

Vijayakanth founds the DMDK

Actor Vijayakanth launched the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam at Madurai.

Free colour television scheme

The DMK government began distributing free colour television sets to families holding ration cards, a key 2006 election promise.

DMK forms a minority government

M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the fifth time, heading a DMK government that depended on outside support from the Congress.

Thirumangalam by-election

The DMK won the Thirumangalam assembly by-election on a turnout of about 89 percent, amid allegations of cash being paid for votes.

DMK-Congress alliance wins 27 of 39 Lok Sabha seats

Against expectations, the DMK, Congress and VCK won 27 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats, helping the UPA return to power.

AIADMK returns to power in 2011

The AIADMK alliance won a large majority and J. Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister for the third time; the DMDK became the main opposition.

AIADMK retains power in 2016

Winning a second term in a row, the AIADMK became the first party in power in Tamil Nadu to be returned to office since 1984.

Kamal Haasan founds Makkal Needhi Maiam

Actor Kamal Haasan launched the Makkal Needhi Maiam party at a public meeting in Madurai.

M. K. Stalin elected DMK president

M. K. Stalin was elected unopposed as president of the DMK, succeeding his father M. Karunanidhi.

DMK alliance sweeps 2019 Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu

The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance won 38 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.

Rs. 12,110 crore cooperative crop loan waiver

Ahead of the 2021 election, Palaniswami waived crop loans from cooperative banks for about 16 lakh farmers after cyclones damaged crops.

Ungal Thoguthiyil Muthalamaichar grievance department

The new DMK government set up a department to resolve within 100 days the petitions Stalin had collected during his election campaign.

DMK wins 2021 election; M. K. Stalin becomes Chief Minister

The DMK-led alliance won the 2021 Assembly election and M. K. Stalin was sworn in as Chief Minister for the first time.

Vijay founds Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam

Film actor Vijay launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, announcing he would leave cinema for politics.

DMK alliance wins all 39 Lok Sabha seats

The DMK-led INDIA bloc won all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu; the AIADMK and BJP, contesting separately, won none.

Karur crowd crush at TVK rally

A crowd crush at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam campaign rally addressed by Vijay in Karur killed 41 people.

TVK wins most seats in 2026; Vijay becomes Chief Minister

In its first election the TVK became the largest party with 108 seats, and C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister with the support of allies.