Udhayanidhi Stalin retained his Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency, defeating D. Selvam by 7,140 votes. This win comes as a major blow for the DMK, led by his father M.K. Stalin, who lost his Kolathur seat in the same election.
Key election statistics:
- Udhayanidhi’s previous margin was 69,355 votes in 2021.
- The DMK’s seat share plummeted from 133 seats to 6 seats.
- TVK secured 10 seats and led in 99 as of election day.
Udhayanidhi’s victory marks his second consecutive win in this constituency. His lead was narrower than in the previous election, indicating a shift in voter sentiment.
Observers note that Udhayanidhi is widely seen as the political heir of Karunanidhi and M.K. Stalin. He is expected to be the leader of opposition if the DMK emerges as the main opposition party.
This election result reflects a significant change in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. The outcome raises questions about the future direction of the DMK and its leadership.
