Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results 2026 | 'Will not leave anyone behind, we will win again': M K Stalin after crushing defeat

Outgoing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday conceded defeat, while also thanking the people of Tamil and Nadu and the DMK workers for their efforts.

The ruling DMK could manage to secure only 59 constituencies in the 234-seat Tamil Nadu assembly. Stalin himself faced defeat to TVK's VS Babu in his bastion Kolathur constituency.

"I express my heartfelt and sincere gratitude to all the people of Tamil Nadu who voted for the candidates of the secular progressive alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly general elections. I consider each and every one of your votes as an invaluable token of trust," Stalin said in a post on X.

Further, Stalin asked winning candidates to express their gratitude to people by meeting them immediately.

"We have always fulfilled the duty of going directly to the people who voted for us and expressing our thanks. In that regard, on behalf of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, I request all the winning candidates to immediately meet the people who voted for them and express their gratitude," Satlin wrote.

"In democracy, the people are the ones worthy of our reverence. It is for them that we run the party. It is for them that we engage in politics. Therefore, I urge all candidates to go in person and express thanks to all the people," he added.

Stalin said that even in defeat, DMK's ideology must not be lost and encouraged party workers to continue working towards their ideas.

"There is no victory we have not seen; there is no defeat we have not faced. In the political public life, in the journey of upholding our ideology, what we will always be cautious about is that our ideology should not suffer defeat. Whether in victory or defeat, those who regard them equally and continue their journey toward their ideals are the comrades of the party," Stalin said in the statement.

He further said that the DMK will become a strong opposition party and continue to fight for the demands of the people.

"If we are the ruling party, we will formulate schemes for the people. If we are the opposition party, we will fight for the people's demands. In that regard, now as a strong opposition party, we will continue the politics for the people," he said.

Finally, Stalin reiterated that he will continue the journey of implementing the policies of the century-old great Dravidian movement, protecting race, language, and nation. "In our journey, I will not leave anyone behind. We will win again!"