2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election

The 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election was held on May 16, 2016, to elect the 234 members of the 15th Assembly of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The election was significant as it marked the first instance of a post-Jayalalithaa political landscape, following the death of the long-serving Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in December 2016. The primary contest was between the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by O. Panneerselvam, and the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), under M. K. Stalin's leadership. The election witnessed a high voter turnout and was characterized by widespread campaigning and issues concerning governance, welfare schemes, and regional identity. Ultimately, the AIADMK retained power, securing a substantial majority.