Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2026 mark one of the biggest electoral upsets for DMK as actor-politician Vijay’s party stunned the entire nation by emerging as the single largest party in the state.
AMN / CHENNAI
In a stunning political upset during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, M. K. Stalin—a dominant figure in state politics and long-time representative of Kolathur—was defeated in his own stronghold by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate V. S. Babu.The elections marked the electoral debut of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, founded by actor-turned-politician Vijay. Defying expectations, the party not only made a strong entry but also emerged as the single largest party in the state, dramatically reshaping Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
In Kolathur, a constituency Stalin had held continuously since 2011, Babu secured over 82,000 votes, defeating Stalin—who received around 73,000 votes—by a margin of roughly 9,000 after 22 rounds of counting, as per data from the Election Commission of India.
Meanwhile, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate R. Santhanakrishnan finished a distant third with approximately 14,000 votes, underscoring a major shift in voter preferences.
For perspective, in the 2021 elections, Stalin had won the Kolathur seat by a massive margin of over 70,000 votes against AIADMK’s Aadhi Rajaram—making this 2026 defeat particularly striking.
Elsewhere, the contest also carried dynastic significance: Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, contested from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, where he faced Aadhi Rajaram, who shifted constituencies this time but was trailing in early trends.
Overall, the 2026 results signal a dramatic reconfiguration of Tamil Nadu politics, with Vijay’s TVK disrupting the long-standing dominance of the DMK-AIADMK binary and introducing a powerful new force into the state’s electoral arena.
Here is the English version with a clear headline and structure:
Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Who Lost in Subsequent Elections
– Staff Reporter –
Several leaders who served as Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu went on to face defeat in later elections. Here’s a look at some notable instances:
- K. Kamaraj
Served as Chief Minister from 1954 to 1963 for three consecutive terms (Congress). In the 1967 elections, he lost from the Virudhunagar constituency to DMK’s Srinivasan by a margin of 1,285 votes. - M. Bhaktavatsalam
Chief Minister from 1963 to 1967 (Congress). He was defeated in the 1967 elections at Sriperumbudur by DMK’s Rajarathinam by 8,926 votes. - Janaki Ramachandran
Served briefly as Chief Minister for 23 days in 1988 (AIADMK). In the 1989 elections, she lost from Andipatti to DMK’s Aasiyan by 4,221 votes. - J. Jayalalithaa
Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996 (AIADMK). She lost the 1996 elections from Bargur to DMK’s Sugavanam by 8,366 votes. - O. Panneerselvam
A three-time Chief Minister (AIADMK). He lost in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Ramanathapuram to Indian Union Muslim League’s Nawaz Kani by a margin of 166,785 votes. - M. K. Stalin
Chief Minister from 2021 to 2026 (DMK). In the 2026 Assembly elections, he was defeated in Kolathur by V. S. Babu of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam by a margin of 9,116 votes.
These instances highlight that even the most powerful political leaders in Tamil Nadu have not been immune to electoral defeat.