Archive · 9 Oct 2026
AIADMK Leads Dharapuram as TVK Holds Madurantakam Edge
People voted in by-elections in parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The votes were still being counted in the report.
In Dharapuram, AIADMK’s K Bhanumathi was ahead after three rounds.
In Madurantakam, TVK’s Maragatham Kumaravel was leading.
In Puducherry’s Thattanchavady, AINRC’s Ashok Anand was ahead after two rounds.
Counting in Madurantakam paused briefly because of a technical problem, then continued.
The elections were held because some lawmakers had resigned.
The results matter to the governing parties and their opponents.
After three rounds in Dharapuram, AIADMK candidate K Bhanumathi led with 8,244 votes, ahead of TVK’s P Sathyabama with 7,434 and DMK’s S Sunganya with 6,158.
In Madurantakam, TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel was leading; AIADMK’s Kanitha Sampath was second and DMK’s I Paranthaman third.
In Puducherry’s Thattanchavady, AINRC’s Ashok Anand led after two rounds with 6,950 votes, ahead of Congress’s E Vinayagam and DMK’s K Sethu Selvam.
Counting in Madurantakam was briefly interrupted by a technical glitch before resuming.
The bypolls followed incumbent MLAs’ resignations and were described as an important test for the governing TVK and AINRC as well as opposition parties.
- Who
- Candidates from TVK, AIADMK, DMK, AINRC and Congress, among others.
- What
- By-election vote counting in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
- When
- The bypolls were held on October 6; counting was reported on Friday.
- Where
- Dharapuram and Madurantakam in Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
- Why
- The elections were necessitated by resignations of incumbent MLAs.
Governing parties
Opposition parties
Importance of the results
Governing parties
The report says the bypolls were a crucial test for the governing TVK and AINRC regimes.
Opposition parties
The report says the outcome was also important for opposition parties, including the DMK and AIADMK.
TVK government’s political position
Governing parties
TVK formed the government with support from Congress, VCK and IUML, and outside backing from Left parties.
Opposition parties
The report says Left parties had criticized the government and fielded bypoll candidates; it also describes the AIADMK as under pressure to make an electoral comeback.
- Dharapuram leader
- K Bhanumathi (AIADMK), 8,244 votes after three rounds
- Dharapuram second
- P Sathyabama (TVK), 7,434 votes after three rounds
- Madurantakam
- TVK’s Maragatham Kumaravel was leading; no vote total was stated.
- Thattanchavady leader
- Ashok Anand (AINRC), 6,950 votes after two rounds
- Thattanchavady trailing candidates
- E Vinayagam (Congress) had 2,392 votes; K Sethu Selvam (DMK) had 1,534.
- Counting interruption
- A technical glitch briefly interrupted counting in Madurantakam; it later resumed.