STATE PROFILE

Tamil Nadu

Industrialised Dravidian heartland·Main language : Tamil ·Capital : Chennai 
Madras State26 January 1950Renamed Tamil Nadu14 January 1969

~6.4 Cr

Total Electors (2026)

234

Assembly Seats

39

Lok Sabha Seats

18

Rajya Sabha Seats

38

Districts

85.1%

Turnout (2026)

Tamil

Official Language

Chennai

Capital

Overview

Tamil Nadu is one of India's most industrialised and urbanised states, located on the southeastern coast of the country. It was formed as Madras State on 26 January 1950 and renamed Tamil Nadu on 14 January 1969. Chennai, the capital, is a major manufacturing, automobile, technology and services hub and one of India's largest metropolitan economies.

Tamil is the official language and one of the world's oldest living classical languages. The state is renowned for its literary heritage, Dravidian temple architecture, Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam dance. Major festivals include Pongal, Tamil New Year, Deepavali and Navaratri, and the state is home to a chain of UNESCO World Heritage temples and monuments.

Tamil Nadu has a highly diversified economy spanning automobiles, textiles, leather, electronics, heavy engineering, information technology and a strong services sector. With one of the longest coastlines in peninsular India, well-developed ports and a large network of industrial corridors, the state consistently ranks among India's leading contributors to national GDP and exports.

Historical & notable landmarks

Temples, heritage sites, forts and natural wonders across the state. Hover a marker to see its name.

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TempleHeritageFortNatureCity
  • 1Meenakshi Amman TempleMadurai · Madurai district · Towering Dravidian temple with 14 gopurams
  • 2Brihadeeswarar TempleThanjavur · Thanjavur district · UNESCO Chola 'Big Temple', built c.1010 CE
  • 3Shore TempleMahabalipuram · UNESCO 8th-century granite seaside temple
  • 4Ranganathaswamy TempleSrirangam · Tiruchirappalli district · World's largest functioning Hindu temple complex
  • 5Ramanathaswamy TempleRameswaram · Ramanathapuram district · Jyotirlinga shrine with the longest temple corridor
  • 6Arunachaleswarar TempleTiruvannamalai · Tiruvannamalai district · Vast Shiva temple at the foot of Annamalai hill
  • 7Kapaleeshwarar TempleChennai · Chennai district · Pallava-era Shiva temple in Mylapore
  • 8Nataraja TempleChidambaram · Cuddalore district · Home of the cosmic dancer Lord Shiva Nataraja
  • 9KanyakumariKanyakumari · Kanniyakumari district · Subcontinent's southern tip and three-seas confluence
  • 10Vivekananda Rock MemorialKanyakumari · Kanniyakumari district · Island memorial off the southern cape
  • 11Marina BeachChennai · Chennai district · One of the world's longest urban beaches
  • 12Fort St. GeorgeChennai · Chennai district · First English fortress in India, built 1644
  • 13Ooty (Udhagamandalam)Nilgiris · Nilgiris district · 'Queen of hill stations' in the Nilgiris
  • 14KodaikanalDindigul · Dindigul district · Misty 'Princess of Hill Stations' with star lake
  • 15Nilgiri Mountain RailwayCoonoor · Nilgiris district · UNESCO heritage steam-rack mountain railway
  • 16Airavatesvara TempleDarasuram · Thanjavur district · UNESCO Chola temple known for stone craftsmanship
  • 17Gangaikonda CholapuramAriyalur · Ariyalur district · UNESCO Chola capital temple of Rajendra I
  • 18Thanjavur Maratha PalaceThanjavur · Thanjavur district · Royal palace with the Saraswathi Mahal Library
  • 19Palani Murugan TemplePalani · Dindigul district · Hilltop abode of Lord Murugan (Dhandayuthapani)
  • 20Rockfort TempleTiruchirappalli · Tiruchirappalli district · Ucchi Pillayar temple atop an ancient rock fort
  • 21Mudumalai National ParkNilgiris · Nilgiris district · Tiger reserve in the Western Ghats foothills
  • 22Courtallam FallsTenkasi · Tenkasi district · 'Spa of South India' cascade in the Ghats
  • 23Velankanni BasilicaVelankanni · Nagapattinam district · 'Lourdes of the East' coastal Marian shrine
  • 24Pamban BridgeRameswaram · Ramanathapuram district · India's iconic sea bridge to Rameswaram island

Latest election results

2026 Assembly Election

Winning Party
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)
Seats Won by TVK
108
Majority Mark
118
Total Supporting MLAs
121
Voter Turnout
85.1%
Chief Minister
C. Joseph Vijay

Hung Assembly; TVK formed government with support from allied parties.

2024 Lok Sabha Election

Winning Alliance
INDIA Alliance
Seats Won
39
Total Seats
39

Complete INDIA bloc sweep

Electoral timeline

  1. 2026TVK-led Alliance — 121 seats
  2. 2021DMK-led Alliance — 159 seats
  3. 2016AIADMK — 136 seats
  4. 2011AIADMK Alliance — 203 seats

Historical Chief Ministers

  1. 2026–PresentC. Joseph Vijay
  2. 2021–2026M. K. Stalin
  3. 2017–2021Edappadi K. Palaniswami
  4. 2016J. Jayalalithaa
  5. 2011–2016J. Jayalalithaa
  6. 2006–2011M. Karunanidhi

Current state leadership

Chief Minister

C. Joseph Vijay

Deputy Chief Minister

Vacant

Leader of Opposition

Udhayanidhi Stalin

Governor

R. N. Ravi

Speaker

J. C. D. Prabhakar

Legislature composition

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly234 seats · majority mark 118
TVK
108
INC
5
VCK
2
IUML
2
CPI
2
CPI(M)
2

Hung Assembly. TVK (108) formed the government with the support of allied parties, totalling 121 MLAs against a majority mark of 118.

Key political facts

State Formation1950
Renamed as Tamil Nadu1969
First Assembly Election1952
Current Chief MinisterC. Joseph Vijay
Assembly Constituencies234
Parliamentary Constituencies39
Rajya Sabha Seats18
Districts38