Stalin quits as Tamil Nadu CM after DMK's poll rout, loses Kolathur
Synopsis
M.K. Stalin has resigned as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister after the DMK-led alliance collapsed to just 73 seats in a 234-member House — and he lost his own Kolathur seat to a former party colleague. It is the first time a sitting Tamil Nadu CM has lost their constituency since Jayalalithaa's 1996 defeat, signalling a seismic shift in the state's politics.
Key Takeaways
Stalin resigned as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on 5 May after the DMK-led alliance's poll rout.
The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) won only 73 seats in the 234-member Assembly , well below the majority mark of 118 .
The DMK , contesting 164 seats , won approximately 60 — a sharp decline from its previous tally.
Stalin personally lost his Kolathur seat to V.S.
Babu of TVK — the first sitting Tamil Nadu CM to lose their seat since J.
Jayalalithaa in 1996 .
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) , led by actor Vijay , emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority.
Stalin is expected to serve as caretaker CM and then lead the DMK as Leader of Opposition .
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M.K. Stalin resigned as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 5 May, following a stunning electoral defeat that saw his party-led alliance fall well short of a majority in the 234-member Assembly. A formal resignation letter was dispatched to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Raj Bhavan, according to sources.
Scale of the Defeat
The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) could secure only 73 seats in the 234-member Assembly, well below the majority mark of 118. The DMK itself, which contested 164 constituencies, managed to win approximately 60 seats — a sharp decline from its previous performance. The result pushes the once-dominant alliance firmly into the Opposition.
Stalin's Personal Defeat in Kolathur
Compounding the party's woes, Stalin suffered a personal defeat in his long-held stronghold of Kolathur, a constituency he had represented since 2011. He was unseated by V.S. Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making Stalin one of the rare sitting Chief Ministers in Tamil Nadu's history to lose his own Assembly seat. The last comparable instance was in 1996, when then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa faced electoral defeat. Notably, Babu is a former DMK functionary who switched allegiance to TVK, lending his victory an added layer of political symbolism.
TVK Emerges as Largest Party, No Majority Yet
Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party in the fractured mandate, though it too has fallen short of a majority. Post-poll negotiations are reportedly underway as political stakeholders assess coalition possibilities. The election result marks a dramatic realignment in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, with voter sentiment shifting away from the established DMK-led bloc.
What Happens Next
As per constitutional convention, Governor Arlekar is expected to request Stalin to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until a new government is sworn in. Meanwhile, Stalin is widely expected to assume the role of Leader of Opposition as the DMK begins internal deliberations to assess the reasons behind its setback and chart a path forward. All eyes are now on Chennai as government formation negotiations intensify.
Point of View
When Jayalalithaa's AIADMK was swept out in a wave of anti-incumbency. The parallel is uncomfortable for the DMK: Vijay's TVK, much like the early DMK itself, has mobilised a younger, identity-driven voter base that the old alliance arithmetic failed to account for. The fractured mandate also raises a deeper question — whether Tamil Nadu is entering a three-cornered political era, or whether TVK's surge is a one-election phenomenon that coalition pressure will quickly moderate.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did M.K. Stalin resign as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister?
M.K. Stalin resigned as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on 5 May after the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) won only 73 seats in the 234-member Assembly, falling well short of the 118-seat majority mark. His resignation letter was formally submitted to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Raj Bhavan.
What happened to Stalin in the Kolathur constituency?
Stalin lost the Kolathur constituency — his stronghold since 2011 — to V.S. Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). It makes him one of the rare sitting Chief Ministers in Tamil Nadu to lose his own Assembly seat, an event last seen in 1996 when J. Jayalalithaa was defeated.
Which party won the most seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election?
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, emerged as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. However, it too fell short of an outright majority, leading to post-poll negotiations over government formation.
Who is V.S. Babu, the candidate who defeated Stalin?
V.S. Babu is a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate and a former DMK functionary who switched political allegiance before the elections. His victory over Stalin in Kolathur is considered politically significant given his DMK background and the symbolic weight of unseating a sitting Chief Minister in his own bastion.
What happens next after Stalin's resignation?
As per constitutional convention, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is expected to ask Stalin to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until a new government is formed. Stalin is widely expected to lead the DMK as Leader of Opposition while the party conducts internal reviews of its electoral defeat.
