Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president MK Stalin has made inroads in the high-stakes contest in Kolathur constituency, but is still lagging behind VS Babu of Amilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
According to figures released by the Election Commission of India, Stalin, who has bagged 44,541 votes, is trailing by about 8,455 votes in the multi-cornered contest in Kolathur. Meanwhile, his electoral rival Babu has polled more than 52,000 votes at the time of writing this article.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate P Santana Krishnan received over 12,926 votes, according to the poll body.
In Tamil Nadu, TVK, led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, is expected to emerge as the largest single party, with a single lead of about 106 seats. TVK follows the AIADMK-led alliance with 55 seats, followed by DMK with 54 seats.
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Stalin had built his campaign on the KDP’s governing record over the past five years, while looking to overcome anti-incumbency. The DMK highlighted welfare delivery, social policy expansion and administrative performance during its election campaign. However, the rise of Joseph Vijay’s TVK introduced a new variable into the equation.
TVK Candidate Leads Against Stalin: Who is VS Babu?
Babu, a veteran politician and former DMK MLA, has drawn attention as a surprise contender against Stalin who has put up a strong show against the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
The 75-year-old politician had previously represented Burasawalkam constituency from 2006 to 2011 as a DMK member, and has over two decades of experience.
Babu joined TVK on February 7, 2026, and announced the asset value $ 3.7 crore, according to his 2026 affidavit.
Rise of TVK In Tamil Nadu, the party leads in more than 100 seats
Meanwhile, looking at the bigger picture, Vijay’s TVK moved ahead in Election Commission trends, indicating a strong performance across states.
The party, which has emerged as an alternative and brought a new dynamism to Tamil Nadu’s two-party politics, has tapped into anti-incumbency sentiment in the state, attracting the attention of younger voters.
Read also | Vijay’s family is sounding the siren, can’t stop cheering as TVK advances Tamil Nadu election results. He watches
TVK’s performance in northern districts, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur, shows significant successes in Dravidian specialties, news agency PTI reported. Apart from this, the party has also succeeded in making its presence felt in Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai and Mayiladuthurai.
After the leads became clear, TVK chief Vijay’s family was seen celebrating what appears to be a major victory for the party. Security has been tightened outside Vijay’s residence, with senior police officers deployed. Meanwhile, TVK workers gathered outside the actor-turned-politician’s residence, waving flags and distributing sweets amid celebrations.
