Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Tamil Nadu Bypolls Put Defections At Center Of Campaign
Tamil Nadu will hold special elections in two Assembly seats on October 6.
The seats became vacant after two AIADMK legislators resigned and joined the TVK.
They are now contesting again for the TVK using its whistle symbol.
The AIADMK wants to win the seats back.
AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami will campaign for the party’s new candidates.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to campaign for the TVK candidates.
Other parties, including the DMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi and Left parties, are also contesting.
The election may show whether voters accept the politicians’ party switch or punish them for leaving the party on whose ticket they won.
By-elections will be held on October 6 in the SC-reserved constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram.
Former AIADMK MLAs Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama resigned after winning the seats in the 2026 Assembly polls and joined the TVK.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami will campaign for S Kanitha Sampath and K Banumathi in the two constituencies.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to campaign for TVK nominees Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama.
The contests include candidates from the DMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi and Left parties, while the PMK says it will not support any party.
- Who
- AIADMK, TVK, DMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi and Left party candidates are contesting; Edappadi K Palaniswami and C Joseph Vijay are campaigning for their respective parties.
- What
- Assembly by-elections are being held in Madurantakam and Dharapuram after former AIADMK MLAs resigned and joined the TVK.
- When
- Voting is scheduled for October 6. Palaniswami’s campaign dates are September 24, 25 and October 3 in Madurantakam, and September 27, 28 and October 2 in Dharapuram.
- Where
- The constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- The seats became vacant after Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama resigned from the Assembly and joined the TVK.
AIADMK Position
TVK Position
Political defections
AIADMK Position
The AIADMK is expected to argue that the former legislators betrayed the public mandate by leaving after winning on the party’s Two Leaves symbol.
TVK Position
The TVK has nominated the former AIADMK legislators, Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, to contest under its whistle symbol.
Who should represent the constituencies
AIADMK Position
The AIADMK is seeking to regain the two seats with candidates S Kanitha Sampath and K Banumathi.
TVK Position
The TVK is seeking to retain the seats through the former legislators, with C Joseph Vijay expected to campaign for them.
Election significance
AIADMK Position
The AIADMK campaign is framing the bypolls as a test of whether voters will penalize party defections.
TVK Position
The TVK campaign is presenting the former legislators’ political realignment to voters in the by-elections.
- Election date
- October 6
- Constituencies
- Madurantakam and Dharapuram
- Reservation
- Both constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes
- Former AIADMK MLAs
- Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama
- AIADMK candidates
- S Kanitha Sampath in Madurantakam and K Banumathi in Dharapuram
- TVK symbol
- Whistle
- PMK position
- The party will not support any party in the by-elections
