In a shocking political upset, MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), was defeated in his Kolathur constituency by VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Katchi (TVK) during the 2026 elections. Babu secured 9,192 votes more than Stalin, marking a dramatic turnaround in a seat that Stalin had previously held with significant margins. Historically, Stalin had won Kolathur by 37,730 votes in 2016 and 70,384 votes in 2021, making this loss particularly notable. The Kolathur seat was established after a delimitation exercise in 2011, where Stalin first won by a narrow margin of 2,734 votes against the AIADMK's Saidai Duraisamy. VS Babu, who was once responsible for managing Stalin's campaigns, switched to the AIADMK in 2016 and later joined the TVK, effectively orchestrating this unexpected defeat for his former boss. This outcome not only challenges Stalin's leadership but also reshapes the political dynamics in Tamil Nadu as the state approaches the next election cycle.