Kamal Ghorui
In a major political development in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026, chief minister M K Stalin has lost his Kolathur constituency, his long-time political stronghold, to V S Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with the party heading towards its maiden electoral performance.According to Election Commission data after the 22nd round of counting, Babu polled 82,997 votes, while Stalin secured 74,202 votes, resulting in a margin of 8,795 votes.
Who is V S Babu?
V S Babu began his political career in the DMK, where he worked as a grassroots organiser before rising to become the North Chennai district secretary of the party. Over time, he established himself as a known face in Chennai’s urban political landscape.He entered the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 2006 after winning the Purasawalkam seat, strengthening his position within the party. However, internal changes in the DMK and the rise of senior leaders, including P K Sekarbabu, led to a decline in his organisational role.Following this, he was removed from key party responsibilities and eventually exited the DMK. He later had a brief association with the AIADMK before making another political shift ahead of the 2026 elections.In February 2026, he joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, and was fielded from the high-profile Kolathur constituency against Chief Minister M K Stalin.His win in Kolathur, a seat long associated with Stalin since 2008, marked a major political upset, with Babu defeating the Chief Minister by 8,795 votes according to Election Commission data.His victory is being seen as one of the standout results of the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections, reflecting TVK’s emergence as a significant new political force in the state.In the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, he secured a victory in Kolathur by defeating CM Stalin with a margin of 8,795 votes, polling 82,997 votes against the chief minister’s 74,202 votes, as per Election Commission data after the 22nd round of counting.The result marks a significant political shift as Kolathur has been represented by Stalin since its creation in 2008 after delimitation. This is the first time the DMK leader has lost from the constituency, ending his long-standing hold over the seat.After his victory, Babu collected his winning certificate at the Loyola College counting centre amid celebrations by TVK cadres.The outcome comes amid a strong debut showing by TVK in Tamil Nadu. As per trends cited, the party has emerged as a major force with 14 wins and leads in 94 constituencies, while DMK trails with 7 wins and 53 leads. The AIADMK alliance has 2 wins and 43 leads, and Congress has 1 win with 4 leads.The result in Kolathur is being viewed as a symbolic setback for the DMK leadership and a major breakthrough for TVK in its first major electoral outing.
