CHENNAI:
The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday announced its candidates for the October 6 Assembly by-elections in the reserved constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram, choosing former AIADMK MLAs Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, respectively.
Maragatham Kumaravel has been named the TVK candidate for Madurantakam (SC), while P Sathyabama will contest from Dharapuram (SC). Both candidates had contested and won the respective seats on the AIADMK ticket in the 2026 Assembly election. They subsequently resigned as MLAs and joined the TVK, resulting in the vacancies.
The decision to field the two former AIADMK legislators gives the TVK an opportunity to seek a fresh mandate in the constituencies where the candidates had already established an electoral base. Their candidature also makes the bypolls significant for the ruling party, which will be seeking to consolidate its position after forming the government earlier this year.
The bypolls to Madurantakam and Dharapuram are among the vacancies that arose in the State Assembly. The Election Commission has scheduled polling for October 6, with counting to be held on October 9. The nomination process is under way, adding to the political activity in both constituencies.
The TVK announcement comes a day after the DMK declared its candidates for both seats. The DMK has fielded advocate I Parandaman in Madurantakam and advocate S Suganya in Dharapuram. With the two major parties now announcing their candidates, the contest in both constituencies is set to intensify.
The AIADMK is also preparing to enter the fray. Former MLA Kanika Sampath is being considered for Madurantakam, while advocate Uma Sankari, daughter of former MLA Sivagami Vincent, is tipped to contest Dharapuram. The Naam Tamilar Katchi is also expected to field candidates, raising the possibility of a four-cornered contest in both constituencies.
The bypolls are politically important for the TVK as they will be the first direct electoral test for the ruling party after it came to power. Madurantakam and Dharapuram are both reserved constituencies, and the outcome will provide an early indication of the ruling party’s ability to retain seats won by its newly inducted legislators.
The contests are also significant for the DMK and AIADMK, which will be looking to challenge the TVK’s hold in the two constituencies. With the three major parties gearing up for the polls and the nomination process already under way, campaigning is expected to gather momentum in the coming days