V.S. Babu of the Tamil Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) defeated incumbent Chief Minister M.K. Stalin (DMK) in the Kolathur constituency during the 2026 assembly elections.

The victory marks a significant political shift in Chennai, as the Chief Minister lost a seat he had sought to win for a fourth time. The result underscores the rising influence of the TVK party and a growing appetite for change among the electorate.

Babu, 75 [3], emerged as the winner following the election held on April 23, 2026 [1]. Results were finalized after counting concluded on May 4, 2026 [2]. The contest in Kolathur was characterized as a fierce triangular battle involving Babu, Stalin, and R. Santhanakrishnan of the AIADMK.

Babu's path to victory followed a rapid political transition. A former insider within the DMK, Babu joined the TVK on Feb. 7, 2026 [4]. This shift allowed him to campaign against his former party by leveraging his internal knowledge and the TVK's momentum.

Babu is not a newcomer to the legislative process. He previously won the assembly election in 2006 while running as a DMK candidate [5]. His return to power under a different banner highlights the volatility of party loyalty in the region.

The victory in Kolathur is being framed as a "giant slayer" moment for the TVK candidate, as he successfully ousted one of the most powerful figures in Tamil Nadu politics from his home constituency.

“V.S. Babu defeated incumbent Chief Minister M.K. Stalin (DMK) in the Kolathur constituency.”

The defeat of a sitting Chief Minister in his own constituency is a rare and high-impact event in Indian state politics. It suggests that the TVK has successfully penetrated traditional DMK strongholds by recruiting experienced former party members like Babu. This result may signal a broader erosion of the DMK's dominance in urban Chennai and indicates that the TVK is now a viable electoral challenger rather than a peripheral player.