In a surprising turn of events during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, V.S. Babu, a seasoned politician, emerged victorious over Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the Kolathur constituency. Babu, who had a varied political career across different parties, started as a grassroots organizer within the DMK before progressing to become the North Chennai district secretary.
Having won as an MLA in 2006 from Purasawalkam, Babu established himself as a key figure in North Chennai politics. However, his standing within the DMK weakened due to internal changes, especially with the ascent of P.K. Sekarbabu. Subsequently, Babu distanced himself from the DMK and briefly associated with the AIADMK.
Prior to the 2026 elections, Babu aligned with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, and contested from Kolathur, a constituency long held by Stalin. Against expectations, Babu leveraged shifting voter sentiments and local factors to secure a significant win over Stalin, who had represented the area since 2011 and was aiming for a fourth consecutive term.
Babu’s victory signifies a notable shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, where Vijay’s TVK has disrupted the longstanding Dravidian dominance, emerging as a strong political entity.
