Archive · 9 Oct 2026
TVK Wins Tamil Nadu Bypolls as AINRC Retains Puducherry Seat
People voted in by-elections for two seats in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry.
TVK candidates won both Tamil Nadu seats.
P. Sathyabama won Dharapuram, and Maragatham Kumaravel won Madurantakam.
The DMK candidates finished second in both contests.
In Puducherry, Ashok Anand of AINRC won Thattanchavady.
The Tamil Nadu wins increased TVK’s Assembly tally from 107 to 109.
A minister said the results showed support for Chief Minister Vijay’s leadership.
Opposition leaders disputed that interpretation and accused the ruling party of misusing power.
TVK’s P. Sathyabama won Dharapuram by 9,471 votes, defeating DMK’s S. Suganya.
TVK’s Maragatham Kumaravel won Madurantakam by 20,040 votes over DMK’s I. Paranthamen.
In Puducherry, AINRC’s Ashok Anand retained Thattanchavady, defeating Congress’s E. Vinayagam by 8,482 votes.
The Tamil Nadu victories raised TVK’s Assembly tally from 107 to 109; five other seats were expected to face by-elections.
Minister Nirmal Kumar called the results an endorsement of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, while DMK and AIADMK leaders alleged misuse of power.
- Who
- TVK candidates P. Sathyabama and Maragatham Kumaravel; AINRC candidate Ashok Anand; their rivals from the DMK and Congress.
- What
- TVK won the Dharapuram and Madurantakam by-elections, while AINRC retained Thattanchavady.
- When
- Results were reported on October 9, 2026; voting took place on October 6.
- Where
- Dharapuram and Madurantakam in Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
- Why
- The seats became vacant after legislators resigned; the Tamil Nadu candidates had left the AIADMK and joined TVK.
Ruling party interpretation
Opposition response
Meaning of the TVK victories
Ruling party interpretation
Minister Nirmal Kumar described the results as an endorsement of Chief Minister Vijay’s governance and leadership.
Opposition response
DMK leader M. K. Stalin called the outcome an interim victory for betrayal and alleged that the TVK government misused its power; AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami also alleged misuse of power and called the win temporary.
Electoral implications
Ruling party interpretation
The wins increased TVK’s Assembly tally to 109 and were described as a morale boost ahead of further by-elections.
Opposition response
Reports noted that the DMK finished second in both Tamil Nadu seats, while the wins by former AIADMK legislators could raise concerns about further defections from the party.
- Dharapuram
- P. Sathyabama won with 66,841 votes, beating S. Suganya, who received 57,370, by 9,471 votes.
- Madurantakam
- Maragatham Kumaravel won with 74,048 votes, beating I. Paranthamen, who received 54,008, by 20,040 votes.
- Thattanchavady
- Ashok Anand won with 13,358 votes, beating E. Vinayagam, who received 4,876, by 8,482 votes.
- TVK Assembly tally
- Reports put TVK at 107 MLAs before the Tamil Nadu by-elections and 109 after its two wins.
- Tamil Nadu Assembly
- The Assembly has 234 seats; the reported simple-majority mark is 118.
- Turnout
- Reported turnout was 80.30% in Dharapuram and 86.26% in Madurantakam.
- Candidate history
- Sathyabama and Kumaravel had been elected as AIADMK legislators before resigning and joining TVK.
Sources
Tamil Nadu Bypolls: TVK Leads In Two Seats, AINRC Retains Puducherry's Thattanchavady
TVK Heads For Wins In TN Bypolls, AINRC Retains Puducherry Seat
By-poll Win Endorsement Of CM Vijay's Leadership, Governance: Nirmal Kumar
Bypolls: TVK poised for win in TN, NDA constituent AINRC wins battle in Puducherry