Tamil Nadu elections 2026: Who is VS Babu, the giant killer leading against MK Stalin in Kolathur?

Currently, VS Babu of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is leading with 7,361 votes.

Veteran politician VS Babu has emerged as a surprise contender in Tamil Nadu’s Kolathur constituency, taking on Chief Minister MK Stalin in a high-stakes contest.

Chennai: Election officials arrive at Kolathur strong room during the counting of votes for the Assembly elections at a counting centre, in Chennai, Monday, May 4, 2026. (PTI)

A former DMK MLA who has since joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the 75-year-old is drawing attention for his strong showing in what has long been considered a DMK stronghold.

As counting continues in Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin is trailing in the Kolathur constituency after briefly taking the lead, according to analytics platform Pvalue. His party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, is ahead in 60 seats.

As of 2.12 pm, VS Babu is leading with 49,099 votes, ahead by 8,048 votes. Stalin is trailing with 41,051 votes, while P. Santhana Krishnan of the AIADMK is further behind with 12,259 votes.

Tamil Nadu voted for its 17th legislative assembly on April 23, with Stalin seeking a second consecutive term - something no DMK leader has achieved before. He is contesting from Kolathur, where a multi-cornered fight has unfolded.

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Here are five key facts about VS Babu:

1. Babu is a veteran politician and former MLA. The 75-year-old previously represented the Purasawalkam constituency after winning the 2006 election as a DMK candidate. He joined TVK on February 7, 2026.
2. He brings over two decades of political experience and served as the Purasawalkam MLA from 2006 to 2011, defeating the AIADMK candidate by more than 90,000 votes.
3. According to his 2026 affidavit, Babu has declared assets worth ₹3.7 crore.
4. He is currently leading Stalin by over 7,000 votes, as per the Election Commission of India website, in a constituency long considered a DMK stronghold.
5. The emergence of actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party, TVK, has introduced a new dynamic, aiming to tap into anti-incumbency sentiment and attract younger voters.