Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Tamil Nadu Bypolls Record Turnout in Madurantakam and Dharapuram
People in Madurantakam and Dharapuram are voting to choose their representatives.
By 1 p.m.
on Tuesday, more than half of the voters in each place had voted.
Voting started at 7 a.m.
and was due to end at 6 p.m.
The two seats became vacant after their former AIADMK representatives resigned and joined the TVK.
Those former representatives are now running again for the TVK.
Many candidates from several parties are competing in both seats.
Voting is also taking place in Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
The votes in all three places are due to be counted on October 9.
By 1 p.m. Tuesday, turnout was 55.19% in Madurantakam and 56.09% in Dharapuram.
Polling began at 7 a.m. and was scheduled to continue until 6 p.m.
The two Scheduled Caste-reserved seats fell vacant after AIADMK legislators K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned and joined the TVK.
There are 27 candidates in Madurantakam and 22 in Dharapuram, including candidates from TVK, AIADMK, DMK, and other parties.
Votes in Madurantakam, Dharapuram, and Puducherry’s Thattanchavady were scheduled to be counted on October 9.
- Who
- Voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram are choosing Assembly representatives; multiple party candidates are contesting.
- What
- By-elections are being held, with turnout by 1 p.m. at 55.19% in Madurantakam and 56.09% in Dharapuram.
- When
- Tuesday; polling began at 7 a.m. and was scheduled to end at 6 p.m. Counting is scheduled for October 9.
- Where
- Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu; polling is also underway in Thattanchavady, Puducherry.
- Why
- The Madurantakam and Dharapuram seats became vacant after their AIADMK legislators resigned and joined the TVK.
Ruling party
Opposition parties
Electoral contest
Ruling party
TVK is contesting both Tamil Nadu seats with former AIADMK legislators K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama seeking re-election.
Opposition parties
AIADMK, DMK, CPI(M) or CPI, and Naam Tamilar Katchi candidates are among the challengers.
- Madurantakam turnout by 1 p.m.
- 55.19%
- Dharapuram turnout by 1 p.m.
- 56.09%
- Madurantakam registered voters
- 213,788
- Madurantakam polling stations
- 285
- Dharapuram electors
- 223,306
- Dharapuram polling stations and centres
- 320 stations across 186 centres
- Candidates in the two Tamil Nadu constituencies
- 49 in total: 27 in Madurantakam and 22 in Dharapuram
- Scheduled counting
- October 9 for Madurantakam, Dharapuram, and Thattanchavady