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From the vote counting that was underway on May 4 on the 234-seat Tamil Nadu Assembly, the ruling DMK alliance led in around 41 seats, while AIADMK gained the lead in 24 seats, and debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor Vijay led in 15 seats.

This three-sided competition has been able to bring excitement, with TVK upsetting the traditional DMK-AIADMK domination in some constituencies. Close attention is being paid to key figures such as MK Stalin and Vijay, promoting them as candidates in Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East.

Over 85 percent voter turnout has predetermined the risk of obtaining a rather fragmented mandate. Although the final results are yet to be obtained, such initial leads reveal no definite sweep that has left political pundits on their seats. There is also collaboration and independency in the brew as trends keep changing rapidly in the counting completions.

According to political observers, the ultimate outcome will be the formulation of politics in Tamil Nadu in the next five years, with the performance of TVK turning into one of the hottest topics and discourses in this high-profile election.