The ruling DMK was ahead only in 31 seats and its partners the Congress and Pattali Makkal Katchi in nine and five assembly segments.
In the AIADMK-led front, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam was forging ahead in 23, the Communist Party of India-Marxist in 10 and the CPI in five constituencies.
All top leaders of the AIADMK including Jayalalithaa, O Panneerselvam and K A Sengotaiyan, DMDK founder Vijaykanth, DMK patriarch and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and his son M K Stalin were leading over their nearest rivals.
As trends started trickling in, the AIADMK workers went into celebratory mood gathering in front of their party supremo's Poes Garden residence in Chennai with women dancing and volunteers bursting crackers.
The AIADMK was ahead of the DMK in all the regions of the state. Many of the senior DMK leaders, including several ministers such as party veteran K Anbazhagan were way behind their rivals.
