Chief Minister MK Stalin continues to trail from his Kolathur constituency
As of 10:00 AM, Chief Minister MK Stalin is trailing in his bastion of Kolathur following the first three rounds of counting.
This developing shocker from North Chennai sees VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) holding a steady lead over the DMK chief.
While Stalin has historically dominated this constituency—winning by a margin of over 70,000 votes in 2021—early EVM rounds suggest a significant surge for the new entrant, reflecting the “Vijay effect” projected by some exit polls.
Despite the setback in his individual seat, the DMK-led alliance continues to show strength across the state, leading in approximately 54 to 66 seats, while the TVK is putting up a massive fight with leads in over 75 to 80 seats according to early trends.
The AIADMK-led alliance is currently in third place, maintaining leads in about 44 seats, including an early lead for Edappadi K. Palaniswami in Edappadi.
With a record-breaking voter turnout of 85.1% to 86% in several key areas, these early numbers are expected to fluctuate as counting moves from the urban centers to the broader rural belts.
Security has been tightened at counting centers across Chennai, and officials expect more clarity on the majority mark of 118 seats by the afternoon.