Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Dharapuram Bypoll Counting Begins Amid Party Dispute
People in Dharapuram voted in an Assembly by-election on October 6.
The counting of those votes is scheduled to start at 8 am on October 9.
The seat is being contested by candidates from the TVK, DMK and AIADMK, among others.
P Sathyabama previously won the seat as an AIADMK candidate.
She later left that party and joined the TVK, and is now running for the TVK.
The AIADMK says her switch was a betrayal and urged voters to punish defectors.
The DMK also criticized the bypoll and asked the Election Commission to examine a claim about her earlier campaign spending.
The article does not yet report who won.
Counting for the Dharapuram Assembly bypoll is scheduled to begin at 8 am on October 9, 2026.
The bypoll was held on October 6, with 78.53% voter turnout recorded by 5 pm.
The main candidates are P Sathyabama of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, S Suganya of the DMK, and K Bhanumathi of the AIADMK.
Sathyabama won the seat for the AIADMK in the April Assembly election, then resigned from the party and joined the TVK.
The DMK and AIADMK criticized Sathyabama’s party switch; the DMK also asked the Election Commission to investigate a claim about her past election spending.
- Who
- The key candidates are P Sathyabama (TVK), S Suganya (DMK) and K Bhanumathi (AIADMK).
- What
- Vote counting for the Dharapuram Assembly by-election is scheduled to begin.
- When
- October 9, 2026, at 8 am; voting took place on October 6.
- Where
- Dharapuram Assembly constituency, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- The bypoll is being held to elect a representative for the constituency; the article links it to Sathyabama’s departure from the AIADMK and move to the TVK.
Criticism of Sathyabama's switch
Sathyabama's candidacy
Leaving the AIADMK
Criticism of Sathyabama's switch
The AIADMK accused Sathyabama of betraying the party after she won the seat on its ticket. Edappadi K Palaniswami urged voters to punish defectors.
Sathyabama's candidacy
Sathyabama resigned from the AIADMK, joined the TVK and is contesting the bypoll as its candidate.
Past election spending
Criticism of Sathyabama's switch
The DMK questioned Sathyabama's election expenditure. DMK MLA S Austin asked the Election Commission to investigate a video purportedly featuring her claiming she spent Rs 31 crore in the previous Assembly election.
Sathyabama's candidacy
The article reports no response from Sathyabama or the TVK to the allegation.
- Bypoll voting date
- October 6, 2026
- Counting scheduled
- October 9, 2026, from 8 am
- Turnout
- 78.53% recorded by 5 pm
- Key candidates
- P Sathyabama (TVK), S Suganya (DMK), K Bhanumathi (AIADMK)
- Sathyabama's prior party
- She won the seat for the AIADMK in the April Assembly election before resigning and joining the TVK.
- DMK request
- DMK MLA S Austin asked the Election Commission to investigate a social media video purportedly featuring Sathyabama claiming she spent Rs 31 crore in the previous Assembly election.
- Result status in article
- No result is reported; counting is scheduled to begin.