Chennai, May 5:
The defeat of Chief Minister and DMK president M. K. Stalin in Kolathur has been widely attributed to a combination of strong anti-incumbency sentiment and the sweeping rise of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
After five years in power, the DMK government faced visible voter fatigue, with sections of the electorate expressing dissatisfaction over governance issues, local grievances, and unmet expectations. This anti-incumbency factor appears to have played a decisive role, even in traditionally strong constituencies like Kolathur.
At the same time, the emergence of Vijay as a political force created a powerful wave across urban and semi-urban regions. TVK’s campaign, centred on change and fresh leadership, resonated strongly with younger voters and first-time electors, cutting into the DMK’s support base.
The candidature of V. S. Babu—a former DMK functionary—further intensified the contest in Kolathur. His familiarity with the constituency and local party structure is believed to have helped TVK effectively challenge Stalin on his home turf.
Additionally, the broader fragmentation of votes and shifting alliance dynamics across Tamil Nadu contributed to narrowing margins in key seats. In this context, even established leaders were not insulated from the larger political churn.
The result marks a rare electoral setback for M. K. Stalin, who had held Kolathur since 2011, and underscores the scale of political change driven by anti-incumbency and the momentum generated by Vijay’s entry into active politics.