Chennai, May 5 : In the wake of a major electoral setback, DMK President M.K. Stalin resigned as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. A formal communication in this regard was sent to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan.

Sources said the resignation letter reached the Governorâ??s office at Lok Bhavan after the Assembly election results made it clear that the DMK-led alliance had fallen well short of the majority mark.

As per convention, the Governor is expected to request Stalin to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new government assumes office.

The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which went into the polls with high expectations, could secure only 73 seats in the 234-member Assembly, a significant drop that has pushed it into the Opposition.

The DMK itself, which contested 164 constituencies, managed to win only around 60 seats, marking a sharp decline from its previous performance.

Adding to the setback, Stalin suffered a personal defeat in his stronghold of Kolathur, a constituency he had represented since 2011. He was defeated by V.S. Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making him one of the rare sitting Chief Ministers in Tamil Nadu to lose an Assembly election.

The last such instance dates back to 1996, when former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa faced defeat.

Babuâ??s victory is seen as politically significant, given his past association with the DMK before shifting allegiance. His win in Kolathur reflects the shifting voter sentiment and the broader churn in Tamil Naduâ??s political landscape.

The election has produced a fractured mandate, with actor-turned-politician Vijayâ??s TVK emerging as the single largest party but falling short of a majority.

With post-poll negotiations underway, all eyes are now on the formation of the next government.

Meanwhile, Stalin is expected to take on the role of Leader of Opposition as the DMK begins internal discussions to assess the reasons behind its electoral setback and chart its future course.

/IANS