Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Sathyabama Defends TVK Switch as Vijay Denies Horse-Trading Claims
P Sathyabama is the TVK candidate in the Dharapuram by-election.
She used to be an MLA for the AIADMK.
She said she left after becoming upset about a possible AIADMK alliance with the DMK.
She said people had accused her of switching parties because of horse-trading.
She also said online abuse had continued for about two months.
During a campaign event, she became emotional and said she had done nothing wrong.
TVK leader C Joseph Vijay comforted her and rejected the allegations.
He said she had resigned properly before joining the TVK.
The Dharapuram election is scheduled for October 6.
P Sathyabama defended leaving the AIADMK and joining the TVK before the Dharapuram bypoll.
She said online trolling, obscene language and horse-trading allegations had targeted her for about two months.
Sathyabama said she resigned because she opposed an AIADMK proposal to form a government with the DMK.
Chief Minister and TVK leader C Joseph Vijay rejected horse-trading claims, saying she resigned properly before joining the party.
The Dharapuram bypoll is scheduled for October 6, while TVK leader K G Arunraj reiterated opposition to the SIR exercise.
- Who
- TVK candidate P Sathyabama, Chief Minister and TVK leader C Joseph Vijay, TVK leader K G Arunraj, and opposition parties including the AIADMK and DMK.
- What
- Sathyabama defended her decision to leave the AIADMK and join the TVK, while Vijay rejected allegations of horse-trading.
- When
- The campaign rally was reported on September 30; the Dharapuram bypoll is scheduled for October 6.
- Where
- Dharapuram assembly constituency, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Sathyabama said she left the AIADMK after opposing a proposal to join forces with the DMK and joined the TVK to work for her constituency.
TVK’s Defense
Opposition Allegations
Reason for changing parties
TVK’s Defense
Sathyabama said she left the AIADMK because she opposed a proposal to join forces with the DMK and wanted to work for her constituency through the TVK.
Opposition Allegations
The opposition has targeted AIADMK MLAs who left the party and joined the TVK, alleging that their defections involved horse-trading.
Whether horse-trading occurred
TVK’s Defense
Vijay said there was no horse-trading because Sathyabama resigned her MLA post before joining the TVK and receiving its nomination.
Opposition Allegations
The DMK and AIADMK have alleged that the TVK obtained opposition MLAs through unfair means.
AIADMK-DMK cooperation
TVK’s Defense
Vijay and Sathyabama said joining the DMK would betray the legacy of AIADMK leaders M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, who opposed the DMK.
Opposition Allegations
The reports state that the AIADMK leadership had proposed joining forces with the DMK to form a government.
- Candidate
- P Sathyabama is the TVK candidate for the Dharapuram bypoll.
- Bypoll date
- October 6.
- Former affiliation
- Sathyabama resigned as an AIADMK MLA before joining the TVK.
- Allegations
- The DMK and AIADMK have alleged that MLAs who joined the TVK were involved in horse-trading.
- TVK response
- Vijay said there was no horse-trading and that Sathyabama duly resigned before joining the TVK.
- Emotional moment
- Sathyabama broke down during the rally, and Vijay comforted her by placing his hand on hers.
- Additional party position
- K G Arunraj reiterated the TVK’s opposition to the SIR exercise.
