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TVK Leads Tamil Nadu Bypolls as AINRC Retains Puducherry Seat
People voted in special elections for two seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat in Puducherry.
As votes were counted, the ruling TVK party in Tamil Nadu was ahead in both seats.
Maragatham Kumaravel led in Madurantakam, and P Sathyabama led in Dharapuram.
The reports give different lead figures for Dharapuram because they describe different points in the count.
In Puducherry, AINRC candidate Ashok Anand won the Thattanchavady seat.
TVK had 107 members in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, while 118 was the stated number needed for a simple majority.
The article said TVK relied on support from other parties to govern.
Tamil Nadu's ruling TVK appeared headed for wins in Madurantakam and Dharapuram as counting progressed.
Maragatham Kumaravel led in Madurantakam, with DMK candidate I Paranthamen second and AIADMK's S Kanitha Sampath third.
In Dharapuram, P Sathyabama moved ahead after an early contest with AIADMK's K Banumathi; reported leads varied by counting stage.
AINRC's Ashok Anand retained Thattanchavady in Puducherry, winning by 8,482 votes over Congress candidate E Vinayagam.
TVK had 107 MLAs in the 227-member effective Assembly, below the stated majority mark of 118.
- Who
- TVK candidates Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama; AINRC candidate Ashok Anand.
- What
- TVK appeared headed to win two Tamil Nadu bypolls, while AINRC retained Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
- Where
- Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
- When
- Vote counting was reported on Friday; voting in Tamil Nadu took place on October 6.
- Why
- The bypolls followed vacancies created by legislators' resignations; Thattanchavady was vacated after N. Rangasamy won from Mangalam as well.
TVK and its supporters
Opposition parties and rivals
Meaning of the Tamil Nadu results
TVK and its supporters
TVK's growing leads suggested voter support for the ruling party, and a win could add two seats and provide a morale boost.
Opposition parties and rivals
The DMK and AIADMK contested against TVK on separate fronts; the article also reported opposition allegations of horse-trading and betrayal.
Government strength
TVK and its supporters
TVK governed with support from parties including Congress and outside backing from Left parties.
Opposition parties and rivals
With 107 MLAs against a stated majority mark of 118, TVK remained short of a simple majority on its own.
Key facts
- Tamil Nadu seats
- Madurantakam and Dharapuram
- TVK lead in Madurantakam
- Maragatham Kumaravel led; the report said her margin exceeded 13,000 by the 12th round.
- TVK lead in Dharapuram
- P Sathyabama led; the article reports margins at different counting stages, including over 5,400 and 10,003 votes.
- Puducherry result
- AINRC's Ashok Anand won Thattanchavady by 8,482 votes.
- Ashok Anand's votes
- 13,358
- Tamil Nadu Assembly
- The report gave an effective strength of 227 and a simple-majority mark of 118.
- TVK Assembly strength
- 107 MLAs, including the Speaker, according to the report.
Sources
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