Chennai, Sept 8:
Speculation is mounting that the DMK may stay away from the October 6 Assembly bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, with party circles reportedly divided over whether to enter a contest that could potentially split Opposition votes and benefit the ruling TVK.
The Election Commission has announced bypolls to the two reserved constituencies, with polling scheduled for October 6 and counting on October 9.
The two seats became vacant after AIADMK MLAs Maragatham Kumaravel of Madurantakam and P Sathyabama of Dharapuram resigned from the Assembly and subsequently joined the TVK.
The resignations were part of a larger post-poll political realignment. Six AIADMK MLAs resigned their seats and joined the ruling TVK, contributing to the formation of the Vijay-led government.
The other five vacancies ā Tiruchy East, Pudukkottai, Karur, Perundurai and Viralimalai ā remain outside the current bypoll schedule following election petitions pending before the Madras High Court.
The DMK faces a political dilemma in the two constituencies. A contest could give the party an opportunity to challenge the Vijay government and demonstrate that it retains electoral strength after its defeat in the Assembly election.
However, a three-cornered contest involving the DMK, TVK and AIADMK could divide votes and potentially improve TVK’s prospects.
According to reports from DMK circles, this calculation has triggered speculation that the party could opt not to contest the two seats. At the same time, sections within the party are reportedly keen on fighting the elections to defeat the TVK and send a political message to the new government.
The bypolls are particularly important for the TVK, which is expected to consider fielding the former MLAs who vacated the seats after backing the government.
A victory for TVK in both constituencies would strengthen its claim that the party has retained its electoral momentum after forming the government.
For the AIADMK, the contests are equally significant as both seats were won by the party in the previous Assembly election. A defeat would add to the political pressure on party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The final decision of the DMK is therefore being watched closely as the nomination process approaches.