Published May 11, 2026 | 3:31 PM ⚊ Updated May 11, 2026 | 3:31 PM
MK Stalin visited Kolathur to express gratitude to the voters. Credit: x.com/mkstalin
Synopsis: South First’s ground report from Kolathur reveals a striking contradiction at the heart of the 2026 Tamil Nadu election, many residents who praised M. K. Stalin’s development work and mourned his defeat still voted for Vijay’s TVK seeking change. From emotional DMK supporters to young voters who admitted they voted largely for Vijay’s image, the constituency now finds itself.”
On 5 May, after being routed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, MK Stalin did not shut himself away at home. Instead, he entered Kolathur, the constituency he had represented continuously for the last 15 years, on a procession to thank the people.
As soon as 50-year-old Poongothai saw him, tears began rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably. Stalin walked close to her and uttered just one word: “Don’t cry.” He comforted her briefly and moved on.
For Poongothai, Stalin’s defeat felt deeply personal.
“We now feel abandoned without Stalin in Kolathur,” she said.
Poongothai was not alone. Reports suggest that leaders cutting across party lines, from Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami to newly elected CM Vijay, privately expressed sadness over Stalin losing in Kolathur.
One of the biggest shocks of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election for many was the defeat of Stalin, a leader who remained unbeaten in more than nine elections. What made it even more painful for his supporters was that he lost in Kolathur itself, a constituency many considered a model for urban development in Tamil Nadu.
Yet the “Vijay wave” spared no one, not even a towering figure like Stalin.
To understand how former DMK leader and current Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate VS Babu managed to defeat Stalin in Kolathur, the South First team travelled through the constituency speaking to residents across neighbourhoods.
Also Read: MK Stalin concedes defeat, says DMK will serve as ‘exemplary opposition’
We met dozens of residents from different parts of Kolathur. Not a single person failed to express sadness over Stalin’s defeat. In fact, even several people who voted for TVK, including party members themselves, spoke emotionally about his loss.
At one point, almost everyone we spoke to claimed they had voted for Stalin. That naturally raised a strange question: if everyone voted for him, who defeated him?
In the calm, tree-lined streets of GKM Colony, 23-year-old Mohammed Sulaiman stopped his bicycle and began speaking to us on his own.
In recent years, social media and mainstream media alike have constantly highlighted growing youth support for Vijay and TVK. But Sulaiman’s views stood in sharp contrast.
“People of Kolathur have forgotten everything Stalin did for them. Just because Vijay is an actor, they ran behind him. Compared to many other constituencies, Kolathur has developed tremendously. People forgot all of that,” he said with visible pain.
கொளத்தூருக்கும் எனக்குமான உறவு தேர்தல் வெற்றி, தோல்விகளைக் கடந்த உறவு.
15 ஆண்டுகாலம் எனக்கு ஆதரவு நல்கியவர்கள் கொளத்தூர் தொகுதி மக்கள். அதில், 10 ஆண்டுகள் எதிர்க்கட்சி வரிசையில் இருந்தும், 5 ஆண்டுகள் ஆளும்கட்சியாகவும் என்னால் இயன்ற அனைத்துத் திட்டங்களையும் கொளத்தூருக்குக் கொண்டு… pic.twitter.com/xtXB8p6ChR
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) May 5, 2026
But 23-year-old Sarathkumar from the Kolathur fish market area had voted for TVK.
“The fish market is famous here. But they shifted it to Villivakkam. Traders say rents are high there. People got angry and changed their votes,” he explained.
Yet when asked who the newly elected MLA was, Sarathkumar laughed and admitted: “I don’t know about that. I voted for Vijay’s party.”
A similar sentiment came from 60-year-old flower vendor Ramani, who runs a small flower shop on the Kolathur main road.
She said she voted for Vijay’s party believing prices would come down.
“I voted for the whistle symbol thinking a new person would be better. I hope inflation will reduce. My son is in that party, so I voted for it because he asked me to,” she said.
But when asked about Stalin’s 15 years as MLA and the work he had done, Ramani immediately began listing schemes and infrastructure projects.
“He brought bus terminals, colleges, parks… and free bus travel for women,” she said.
Ironically, right opposite her flower shop stands Chennai’s first air-conditioned bus terminus, one of the major projects brought to the constituency during Stalin’s tenure.
Hundreds of passengers were seated there when we met 29-year-old Isaac.
While we were speaking to someone nearby, Isaac called us over and showed us his Instagram post.
“I was just posting about how excellent this bus terminus is and how people here benefit from it every day. But the same people defeated the leader who brought it here,” he said emotionally.
Isaac, a marketing employee, continued, ‘There is no shortage of facilities in this constituency, modern hospitals, AC bus stands, colleges, schools and parks are everywhere’. People enjoy all these benefits, but when it came time to vote, they defeated the leader who brought them. It hurts.”
Not just Ramani and Isaac, almost everyone we met, including TVK supporters, openly praised the quality of infrastructure and welfare initiatives Stalin had introduced in Kolathur.
As we travelled across the constituency, we saw government buildings, parks, educational institutions, bus terminals and hospitals spread across the area.
One major initiative residents repeatedly mentioned was the “Anitha Achievers Academy,” located near the MLA office. Stalin had launched it to provide free skill training and employment assistance for youth and women. Residents proudly said the initiative not only offered training but also helped people secure funding to start businesses.
For 38-year-old Esther, Stalin’s defeat felt immensly personal.
“This affected me personally. Even when he was CM, we saw him regularly here. He had already transformed the constituency with development projects. Now we don’t know what new people will do. I still cannot believe he lost,” she said.
50-year-old Rajendran echoed similar feelings, “Stalin is one of the most humble leaders in India. He treats even his opponents with respect. I don’t understand how he lost here. This whole SIR issue itself feels suspicious,” he said.
29-year-old Nishanth, who runs an iron shop in Kolathur, firmly believes Stalin’s defeat was the result of some conspiracy.
“I feel terrible about Stalin losing. He did so much, from women’s welfare schemes to hospitals and other projects here. His defeat feels like some kind of conspiracy,” he said.
When asked about the new MLA, Nishanth admitted he did not know much about him.
“A film actor has come. We’ll see what happens,” he said, referring only to Vijay.
Also Read: MK Stalin loses Kolathur to TVK’s VS Babu by over 8000 votes
That sentiment repeated itself throughout Kolathur. Many voters seemed to have cast their votes primarily for Vijay’s image as an actor. Even among young TVK voters, very few knew much about VS Babu, his political background, his previous stints in the DMK and AIADMK, or what plans he had for the constituency.
At a quiet coffee shop in Kolathur, we met 24-year-old Aishwarya sitting with her friends.
“We voted for Vijay,” she said enthusiastically.
But when asked who their MLA was, she hesitated.
“MS? Or PS?” she asked in confusion before a friend helped her recall the name: VS Babu.
Aishwarya and her friends, another Aishwarya and Karthika, all said they voted for Vijay.
When asked why, their answer was simple, “We voted for Vijay.”
And how did they feel about Stalin losing?
“It feels sad. He was here for 10 years,” they replied softly.
Interestingly, many of those who voted for the DMK knew exactly who VS Babu was and were aware of his political journey from DMK to AIADMK and now TVK.
TVK functionary Suresh Manickam openly admitted this reality.
“We sought votes using Vijay’s face. That is why we won,” he said.
Even while acknowledging the extensive development Stalin brought to Kolathur, schools, colleges, marriage halls and numerous welfare schemes, Suresh said voters wanted change because they believed corruption existed in everything.
“That one reason alone made people choose TVK this time,” he said.
Beyond the individuals quoted in this article, many women, middle-aged residents and young voters repeatedly said Stalin’s defeat had shocked them.
“I honestly don’t even know what more development can be brought to this constituency. Stalin has already done everything. At the very least, the new people should preserve what already exists instead of destroying it,” said 42-year-old Grace.
She added emotionally, “His defeat broke our hearts. Even as CM, he remained accessible to us. He brought schools, playgrounds, educational institutions and many projects here. We don’t know what the future leaders will do.”
After speaking to residents across Kolathur, one thing became clear.
A significant section of voters, especially younger voters and Vijay fans, voted for TVK because of Vijay’s personal image and the hope of change. Many of them knew little about their actual MLA candidate, VS Babu, his political history, or his plans for the constituency.
At the same time, many DMK voters who valued Stalin’s governance and welfare initiatives now feel disappointed and emotionally shaken. They worry less about new promises and more about whether the incoming administration will preserve the infrastructure and welfare systems already built.
In many ways, Kolathur did not reject Stalin’s governance as much as it surrendered to the emotional pull of Vijay’s promise of change.
