List of political parties in Tamil Nadu

This article is part of a series on the
Politics of Tamil Nadu
Constitution and Law Constitution of India Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India Human rights Judicial review Taxation Uniform Civil Code Basic structure doctrine Amendment Law of India Indian criminal law Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Executive Governor of Tamil Nadu R. N. Ravi Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. K. Stalin (DMK) Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Vacant Council of Ministers Departments Organizations
Legislature Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker: M. Appavu (DMK) Deputy Speaker: K. Pitchandi (DMK) Leader of the House: Duraimurugan (DMK) Leader of the Opposition: Edappadi K. Palaniswami (AIADMK) Tamil Nadu Legislative Council Disbanded
Judiciary Madras High Court Chief Justice: S. V. Gangapurwala District Courts Gram Nyayalayas Nyaya panchayat Lok Adalat
Elections Indian General Elections 1951 1957 1962 1967 1971 1977 1980 1984 1989 1991 1996 1998 1999 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024 Legislative Assembly Elections 1952 1957 1962 1967 1971 1977 1980 1984 1989 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026
Political Parties Coalitions AIADMK-led Alliance (AIADMK+) Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) National Democratic Alliance (NDA) National parties State parties Electoral College (India) Election Commission of India Tamil Nadu State Election Commission
Local Government Urban City Municipal Corporations Municipalities Town Panchayats Rural District Panchayats Panchayat Unions Village Panchayats
v t e

Tamil Nadu has a multi-party system. The Election Commission of India accords recognition to national-level and state-level political parties based upon objective criteria. A recognized political party enjoys privileges like a reserved party symbol,^[a] free broadcast time on state-run television and radio, consultation in the setting of election dates, and giving input in setting electoral rules and regulations. Other political parties that want to run in local, state, or national elections must register with the Election Commission of India. The Election Commission of India recognizes registered parties as recognized state parties if they meet the relevant criteria following a Lok Sabha or Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. The recognized-party status is reviewed periodically by the Election Commission of India.^[3]

Prior to the 2016 amendment, which went into effect on 1 January 2014, if a political party failed to meet the criteria in the subsequent Lok Sabha or Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election, they lost their status as a recognized party. In 2016, the Election Commission of India announced that such a review would take place after two consecutive elections instead of every election. As a result, a political party must retain its recognized party status even if it fails to meet the criteria in the next election. However, if they fail to meet the criteria in the subsequent election following the next election, they would lose their status.

National parties

Political party		Flag	Electoral symbol	Political position	Founded	Founder	TN unit leader	Seats
								Lok Sabha	Rajya Sabha	Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
	Aam Aadmi Party			Centre	26 November 2012	Arvind Kejriwal	S. A. N. Vasigaran	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Bahujan Samaj Party			Centre	14 April 1984	Kanshi Ram	K. Armstrong	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Bharatiya Janata Party			Right-wing	6 April 1980	Atal Bihari Vajpayee	K. Annamalai	0 / 39	0 / 18	4 / 234
	Communist Party of India (Marxist)			Left-wing	7 November 1964	E. M. S. Namboodiripad	K. Balakrishnan	2 / 39	0 / 18	2 / 234
	Indian National Congress			Centre to Centre-left	28 December 1885	Allan Octavian Hume	K. S. Alagiri	8 / 39	1 / 18	18 / 234
	National People's Party			Centre-right	28 December 1885	P. A. Sangma	M. Duraiarasan	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234

State parties

Political party		Flag	Electoral symbol	Political position	Founded	Founder	Leader	Seats
								Lok Sabha	Rajya Sabha	Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
	All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam			Centre to Centre-left	17 October 1972	M. G. Ramachandran	Edappadi K. Palaniswami	0 / 39	4 / 18	62 / 234
	Communist Party of India			Left-wing	26 December 1925	M. N. Roy	D. Raja	2 / 39	0 / 18	2 / 234
	Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam			Centre to Centre-left	14 September 2005	Vijayakant	Premalatha Vijayakant	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam			Centre-left	17 September 1949	C. N. Annadurai	M. K. Stalin	24 / 39	10 / 18	133 / 234

Unrecognized parties

Political party		Flag	Founded	Founder	Leader	Seats
						Lok Sabha	Rajya Sabha	Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
	All India Rajakulathor Peravai		2021	M. K. Vengadeshkumar	M. K. Vengadeshkumar	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi		31 August 2007	R. Sarathkumar	R. Sarathkumar	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam		15 March 2018	T. T. V. Dhinakaran	T. T. V. Dhinakaran	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi		28 April 2010	T. R. Paarivendhar	T. R. Paarivendhar	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Indian Union Muslim League		1 September 1951	Muhammad Ismail Sahib	K. M. Kader Mohideen	1 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi		21 March 2013	E. R. Eswaran	E. R. Eswaran	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Makkal Needhi Maiam		21 February 2018	Kamal Haasan	Kamal Haasan	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam		6 May 1994	Vaiko	Vaiko	0 / 39	1 / 18	0 / 234
	Naam Tamilar Katchi		1958	S. P. Adithanar	Seeman	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Pattali Makkal Katchi		16 July 1989	S. Ramadoss	Anbumani Ramadoss	0 / 39	1 / 18	5 / 234
	Puthiya Tamilagam Party		15 December 1997	K. Krishnasamy	K. Krishnasamy	0 / 39	0 / 18	0 / 234
	Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)		29 March 1996	G. K. Moopanar	G. K. Vasan	0 / 39	1 / 18	0 / 234
	Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi		1982	M. Malalchami D. Amukurajah	Thol. Thirumavalavan	1 / 39	0 / 18	4 / 234

Notes

References