Chennai [Tamil Nadu], May 04 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin tweeted this picture accepting the voters' decision and congratulates the victor as TVK takes the majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, in Chennai on Monday. | Photo Credit: ANI

In one of the biggest political upsets in Tamil Nadu’s Assembly polls, incumbent Chief Minister MK Stalin suffered defeat in Kolathur, becoming only the fourth sitting Chief Minister in the State’s history to lose an Assembly election.

He joins a list of former Chief Ministers PS Kumaraswamy Raja, M Bhaktavatsalam and J Jayalalithaa, who were defeated in subsequent elections. Notably, in 1996, AIADMK’s J Jayalalithaa lost from Bargur to DMK’s Sugavanam.

Stalin’s defeat came from Kolathur, a constituency he had held for three consecutive terms and long considered a stronghold of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He was unseated by VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) by a margin of 8,795 votes

Babu, once a close associate of Stalin, had a long stint with the DMK, serving as its North District Secretary. He was elected as an MLA from Purasawalkam in 2006. Following internal differences, he exited the party, briefly joined the AIADMK, and later aligned with the TVK ahead of the elections.

Speaking after his victory, while waiting for Vijay at the Loyola College counting centre, Babu attributed his win to his party leader and the people’s mandate. “It is a huge victory for the party. I will work hard for my constituency,” he said. On the possibility of a ministerial berth, he added, “It is up to the leader to decide.”

Stalin’s defeat was part of a broader setback for the DMK, with several senior Cabinet Ministers including Durai Murugan, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, TRB Rajaa, Anbil Mahesh, Ma. Subramanian, and Thangam Thennarasu all losing their seats.

However, there were a few notable exceptions. Udhayanidhi Stalin retained Chepauk-Thiruvallikkeni, while P. K. Sekar Babu held on to Harbour. Other prominent DMK leaders who secured victories were K. N. Nehru (Tiruchirappalli West), M. R. K. Panneerselvam (Kurinjipadi), K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran (Aruppukottai), and Anitha R. Radhakrishnan (Tiruchendur).

Published on May 4, 2026