Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Early By-Election Trends Favor TVK and AINRC Amid Security
Votes were counted for three special elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on October 9.
The elections were held in Madurantakam, Dharapuram, and Thattanchavady.
Officials counted postal votes first and votes from voting machines afterward.
Early counts suggested that TVK was ahead in Tamil Nadu and AINRC was ahead in Puducherry, but those were only early trends.
The final winners were not established in the reports.
Officials used layered security at the counting centres.
In Madurantakam, cameras watched the centre, and candidates’ agents could view the footage.
Turnout was high in all three constituencies, though lower than in the earlier Assembly elections cited.
The results mattered to both the parties in power and their opponents.
Vote counting began at 8 am on October 9 for by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu and Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
Postal ballots were counted first, followed by votes recorded on EVMs; early trends favored Tamil Nadu’s TVK and Puducherry’s AINRC, but were not final.
The counting centres were in Aathur and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, and Lawspet in Puducherry; officials reported tight, layered security.
Madurantakam recorded 86.26% turnout, Dharapuram 80.30%, and Thattanchavady 80.81%; all were below the comparison Assembly election figures cited in the reports.
The by-elections followed incumbent MLAs’ resignations and were viewed as a test for the governing parties and opposition parties.
- Who
- Election officials counted votes in Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu and Thattanchavady in Puducherry; early trends favored TVK and AINRC.
- What
- Votes from three Assembly by-elections were counted, with postal ballots first and EVM votes afterward.
- When
- Counting began at 8 am on October 9, following polling on October 6.
- Where
- Counting centres were in Aathur and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, and Lawspet in Puducherry.
- Why
- The by-elections followed incumbent MLAs’ resignations and were seen as a test for governing and opposition parties.
Governing parties
Opposition parties
Political significance
Governing parties
The by-elections were a test for the TVK and AINRC governments; early trends indicated an advantage for both.
Opposition parties
Opposition parties also faced a test, with the AIADMK hoping to regain seats it had lost to TVK in the cited Assembly elections.
Tamil Nadu government strength
Governing parties
TVK formed a government with support from Congress, VCK, and IUML, as well as outside backing from Left parties.
Opposition parties
The reports said Left parties had criticized the TVK government, and its majority position was a concern; the DMK and AIADMK were among the main rivals in the by-polls.
- Counting began
- 8 am on October 9
- Polling date
- October 6
- Constituencies
- Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu; Thattanchavady in Puducherry
- Counting sequence
- Postal ballots first, followed by EVM votes
- Early trends
- TVK appeared ahead in Tamil Nadu; AINRC appeared ahead in Puducherry; trends were not final
- Turnout
- Madurantakam 86.26%; Dharapuram 80.30%; Thattanchavady 80.81%
- Madurantakam security
- Three security layers and 54 CCTV cameras; candidates’ agents could watch the footage around the clock
Sources
Bypolls: Vote Count Exercise Begins, Early Trends Indicate Advantage for TVK, AINRC
Bypolls: Counting of Votes Begins in TN, Puducherry
Madurantakam Counting Centre Under 3-Tier Security: Collector
Multi-tier security in place for counting of by-poll votes on Oct 9