At the center of the state’s upcoming assembly elections are women voters, who form more than 51% of the electorate, comprising about 56.7 million voters, about 1.2 million more than men. They do the same in 215 out of 234 assembly constituencies in the state.

However, experts found loopholes in the female vote base, most of which were arguably divided on the basis of caste, class, religion. Election expert Arun Krishnamurthy said, “Women are the majority of voters in Tamil Nadu. However, they are not a united vote base today. They are divided on the basis of caste, class, religion etc. Jayalalitha was the only one who could unite them and motivate them to vote for the AIADMK.”

Notably, major political parties including Chief Minister MK Stalin’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Edappadi K Palaniswami-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) lack prominent women leaders.

Instead, the election contest raises a more complex question of who can best understand and capture the emerging aspirations of women voters in the state?

From consolidation to fragmentation

In 2021, a convergence of factors helped the DMK secure a comfortable victory. The absence of J Jayalalitha and the internal leadership struggle of the AIADMK created conditions for change. The DMK-led alliance combined it with welfare promises targeted at women, allowing it to make inroads into the voter base that had historically supported the AIADMK.

“In 2021, a large portion of the AIADMK’s women voters moved to the DMK because, for one, they had no other option due to Jayalalitha’s absence and infighting in the AIADMK leadership. DMK’s welfare promises specifically tailored to women were another factor. However, the shift of women voters from the AIADMK to the DMK was not natural and now, with the entry of the new alliance, or TVK, women voters Must be held responsible for separating and moving away from DMK.” Krishnamurthy said.

Emotion, Leadership and Wellness Baseline

Political leaders and analysts say the women’s vote in Tamil Nadu defies simple categorization. Instead, they continue to base their political choices around welfare-driven promises.

Chennai-based author and activist Shalin Maria Lawrence said women’s voting behavior is both issue-based and leadership-driven, shaped by the search for credible leadership with emotional connect.

Parties like Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and TVK have attracted some women, especially in rural areas, by raising concerns over security and violence, issues that mainstream Dravidian parties have only recently addressed.

Lawrence said, “There is also a growing sense of fatigue with welfare-focused politics, with concerns that subsidies are disrupting deeper policy interventions. Caste is shaping participation, with reports of Dalit women considering electoral boycotts in response to caste violence. Meanwhile, representation remains constrained.”

She said many women also hesitate to contest local body elections, reflecting deep socio-economic and cultural barriers and a political imagination that still struggles to see women as independent leaders rather than as loyal vote banks.

DMK’s welfare issue

DMK has focused its campaign on welfare distribution. Major schemes include free bus travel for women and Kalaignar Magalir Uraimai Thittam (KMUT), which provides ₹1,000 per month to one woman per family.

According to DMK leaders, schemes like KMUT or free bus service for women are conscious decisions taken by the party for structural empowerment of women in the state.

At the grassroots level, these schemes have deepened DMK’s connect with women, especially among low-income families. But the response has not been uniformly positive. A senior DMK leader said, “The party is very conscious of its welfare gains. It has tried to understand what women voters want and has made welfare promises this time with the aim of retaining voters.”

The eligibility criteria for KMUT has created dissatisfaction, especially among women whose applications were rejected on technical or data-related grounds. Government’s decision on transfer ₹More than Rs 5,000 worth of assistance was given to more than 13 million beneficiaries earlier this year in what CM Stalin described as a “summer package”, strengthening support among recipients but increasing resentment among those excluded.

The result is a dual effect of integration among beneficiaries and disaffection among those left out.

AIADMK’s reform efforts

After losing a significant share of women in 2021, the AIADMK has positioned itself as a natural reclaimer of that base.

Its strategy includes promising higher monthly allowances ₹2,000 and reviving schemes like Thalikku Thangam (gold for marriage). Still, structural challenges remain. The party’s campaign on women’s safety lacks consistency and its ability to maintain pressure on the ruling government remains uneven.

politics of victory and disruption

Into this competitive space enters Vijay, whose appeal transcends traditional political categories.

Krishnamurthy said, “He is someone many people have grown up watching on screen. There is a sense of belonging and charm about him.”

That introduction has led to a change in enthusiasm among women as well as youth and first-time voters. “He is clearly making a dent in the women votes of both AIADMK and DMK,” he said.

TVK has attempted to position itself as a broad-based alternative, targeting women, youth, Scheduled Caste and minority communities. But personal disputes and limited grassroots organization have also raised concerns.

Women, work and the politics of everyday life

Tamil Nadu’s industrial economy depends heavily on women workers, especially in the textile, electronics and manufacturing sectors. The state’s share in India’s female factory workforce is about 43%. Yet, much of this work is low-paid, labor-intensive, and precarious, with limited upward mobility.

Veteran journalist and political analyst T Sigmani called this a “structural paradox”.

“Women voters in Tamil Nadu see governance, welfare and political choice as deeply interconnected; they evaluate governments through the everyday delivery of public services, security and cost of living. They see welfare as a form of economic support and recognition of their role within the household and the state,” she said.

“This creates a voting pattern that combines emotional trust in leadership with practical calculations of stability and profit,” Sigmani said.

This becomes clear when viewed from the ground.

Writer, activist and Dalit feminist Bama Faustina Soosairaj pointed to the changing nature of women’s work. Women are now moving beyond agriculture to corporate offices, IT parks, factories and labor sites, often away from home, while domestic responsibilities remain unchanged.

“In this context, even modest welfare interventions acquire importance. Monthly cash transfers of ₹Provides direct access to money to 1,000 women. Free bus travel reduces the cost of commuting to work. These are very small things but mean a lot to women, especially rural women.”

According to both Bama and Sigmani, the practical logic behind women’s political choice is that “welfare serves not as a charity, but as an enabler of autonomy, mobility, and survival.”

representation paradox

Despite their central role in electoral strategy, women remain underrepresented in political structures.

In 2021, only 12 women won assembly elections, a mere 5%, the lowest since 2001.

In 2026, DMK has fielded 18 women candidates, AIADMK 20 and TVK 23, while NTK is standing with 117 candidates, maintaining its 50% policy.

A senior political functionary acknowledged that candidate selection is determined by established perceptions of “winnability”. Parties often field women in unreserved or reserved constituencies, treating the representation as symbolic rather than substantive.

Parties understand the electoral importance of women voters but are hesitant to nurture strong women leaders, she said, “wary of creating another image with Jayalalitha’s political dominance.”

Arriving in India for a state visit, South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung said Korea and India should work together as emerging global leaders amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, and the two countries can give a new direction to multilateralism in the face of growing challenges. In an exclusive interview with times of IndiaLee said that while Korea has exemplified remarkable economic growth under the multilateral trading system, India with its economic scale and dynamism is well-positioned to shape new global norms. On China’s dominance in critical minerals, Lee said reducing excessive dependence on any one country has become a matter of survival, which is directly linked to the economic security of both India and South Korea. Speaking on the Hormuz crisis, the President said that ensuring the security of vital sea lanes is essential for the survival of both countries and Korea will work together to ensure freedom of navigation in the key energy waterway. Now focusing on defense industrial cooperation, the President said Seoul will fully support India’s “independent production” of defense equipment while exploring joint technology development and co-production. In an exclusive interview with Sachin Parashar and Alpyu Singh, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared his vision for a special strategic partnership with India in key sectors such as trade, technology, critical minerals, defense and shipbuilding, in which Seoul is a global leader. Part: This is your first visit to India as President. Under the current circumstances, how do you hope to further strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership with India, especially in key areas such as trade and critical and emerging technologies? India – the world’s most populous country, fourth largest economy and a leading voice of the Global South – is an ideal partner for the Republic of Korea. Our partnership is based not only on highly complementary economies, but also on shared core values ​​of democracy and market economy. At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and growing challenges to multilateralism, it is more urgent than ever that Korea and India work together as emerging global leaders. Taking forward our Special Strategic Partnership, we will expand our strategic horizons and deepen comprehensive ties of cooperation that will foster mutual development and innovation. A key priority is to accelerate negotiations to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Beyond traditional sectors such as electronics and automobiles, we will expand cooperation in shipbuilding, finance and defense industries, realizing the vision of “Make in India, Together with Korea”. We will also increase cooperation in AI and digital technologies. Korea’s world-class AI infrastructure and India’s vast pool of AI talent make us natural partners. Together, we will proactively identify projects that create meaningful synergy. At the same time, we will further expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, which are the enduring foundation of our relationship. By bringing together India’s rich cultural assets, exemplified by Bollywood, and Korea’s globally influential K-culture, we aim to create even greater synergy. Since my first meeting with PM Modi in Canada in June last year, I have felt genuine warmth and closeness, as if reconnecting with an old friend. I believe in our shared commitment to people-centric politics, maintaining hope even in adverse circumstances. So it is especially meaningful and a great pleasure for me to come to India and meet PM Modi again. I am confident that this visit will prove to be an important milestone in further strengthening the friendship and trust between our two countries. Like India, South Korea is also heavily dependent on the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for its energy needs. How can the two countries work together to help efforts to keep key energy pathways open and mitigate the impact of the Middle East crisis on the global economy and energy security, as well as de-risk supply chains globally? Both the Republic of Korea and India depend on the Middle East for a significant portion of their energy supplies, including crude oil and natural gas. Accordingly, ensuring the security of vital sea lanes is essential to the security of our people and the survival of our nations. Korea will maintain close communication with India to ensure that all ships can sail safely and freely in the Strait of Hormuz. We will also continue to work together in relevant international forums to maintain this shared commitment. Another thing our two countries should do together is diversifying energy supply chains. Amid growing uncertainties in the global economy, I am confident that visionary and strategic cooperation between Korea and India can significantly advance our shared national interests. Co-production of K9 Vajra howitzers strengthens the strategic defense partnership. How do you propose to take this partnership forward, especially in terms of technology-sharing that can boost India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative? The Republic of Korea fully supports India’s Self-reliant India initiative. This is a plan with significant industrial and economic potential and I am confident that it will definitely be realized thanks to the strong commitment of PM Modi.However, self-reliance is difficult to achieve completely on your own. Korea’s rapid industrial development and economic growth was possible with substantial support and assistance from partner countries. In this regard, Korea wishes to work as a key partner of India in pursuing the Self-reliant India initiative. In particular, the K9 Vajra howitzer project is an exemplary example of our bilateral defense and defense industry cooperation. The contract for the second phase of the K9 Vajra project, signed in April last year, provides for more than 60 percent of the manufacturing process to be done in India. According to the plan, it is currently being implemented smoothly. Building on such examples of cooperation, Korea will continue to provide full support to India’s independent production and operation of defense equipment. Furthermore, we will discuss various ways of cooperation in joint technology development and co-production as well as operations and maintenance, so that the defense industry ecosystem of both the countries can move forward together. The two countries are exploring opportunities for cooperation in critical energy transition minerals – amid global efforts for resource diversification to avoid dependence on China – and also in sectors such as maritime and shipbuilding in which South Korea is a global leader. Do you have any roadmap in mind for more result-oriented partnerships in these areas? In an era of restructuring of global supply chains, reducing excessive dependence on any one country has become a matter of survival, which is directly linked to the economic security of both countries. In particular, securing critical minerals, which are essential for cutting-edge industries, and stabilizing maritime logistics networks for those resources will be key factors in national competitiveness going forward. India has the critical minerals, while Korea has the capacity to make them into rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles and other advanced products. This makes both our countries ideal partners to generate synergy. By moving beyond the traditional model of raw material imports and combining Korea’s technology with India’s mining and refining industries, we can work together to establish stable critical-mineral supply chains. There is also immense potential for bilateral cooperation in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors. It is essential to secure shipbuilding and maritime transportation capabilities for India to emerge as a global logistics and manufacturing hub. With world-class expertise in shipbuilding and shipping as well as extensive experience in overseas port projects, Korea is well positioned to become India’s leading partner. I understand that relevant MoUs are expected to be signed during the upcoming visit. I look forward to the day when ships built jointly by our two countries will ply the world’s oceans. 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However, today, regional countries, including Korea, have the potential to take the lead in strengthening multilateralism and advancing the rules-based order.