MK Stalin Faces Defeat in Kolathur, Becomes Second Sitting CM to Lose Election After Jayalalithaa

Chennai, May 4: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin has made history by becoming the second sitting Chief Minister to lose an assembly election, following in the footsteps of Jayalalithaa. This unexpected defeat occurred in the Kolathur constituency.

Stalin was defeated by VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vetria Kazhagam (TVK). Babu, a former DMK official, switched his political allegiance before the elections. This loss is considered one of the most significant outcomes of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, indicating a shifting political landscape and the emergence of TVK as a formidable force.

A similar incident occurred in 1996 when DMK’s E.G. Sugavanam defeated Jayalalithaa in the Bargur constituency. Stalin’s defeat breaks a long-standing trend in Tamil Nadu, where sitting Chief Ministers typically retain their seats.

With over four decades in electoral politics, Stalin has experienced both failures and major successes. He made his debut in 1984 from Thousand Lights but lost his first election. He secured his first victory in 1989 from the same constituency, only to face another defeat in 1991. However, he solidified his political standing with three consecutive wins from 1996 to 2006.

Following a redistricting of constituencies, Stalin moved to Kolathur in 2011 and won this seat in 2011, 2016, and 2021. Despite this record of success, his 2026 loss signals a significant shift in the state’s political dynamics. Beyond electoral politics, Stalin has held several key administrative positions.

In 1996, he became Chennai’s first directly elected mayor and launched the ‘Singara Chennai’ initiative to modernize the city. Later, in 2006, he took charge of the Rural Development and Local Administration departments.

After the passing of his father, M. Karunanidhi, in 2018, Stalin took over the leadership of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and led the party back to power in 2021 as Chief Minister.

Notably, Karunanidhi’s electoral record was unparalleled, as he won every election he contested over several decades. Thus, Stalin’s defeat is regarded as a pivotal moment in the political history of the DMK.