Chennai, October 9:
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) maintained commanding leads across both Tamil Nadu Assembly by-elections as counting progressed past mid-morning on Friday, with the party widening its margins in both constituencies.
In Madurantakam, TVK candidate K. Maragatham Kumaravel held a firm lead after six rounds of counting with 28,415 votes, establishing an active lead of 6,128 votes over DMK candidate I. Paranthaman, who stood in second place with 22,287 votes. AIADMK candidate S. Kanitha Sampath was in third place having polled 18,640 votes.
In Dharapuram, TVK candidate P. Sathyabama continued to lead after nine rounds with 24,047 votes, holding a margin of 2,112 votes over AIADMK candidate K. Banumathi (21,935 votes), while DMK nominee S. Suganya trailed in third place with 19,972 votes.
Candidates fielded by Naam Tamilar Katchi and the Communist parties have polled fewer than 300 votes each in Madurantakam, continuing to trail significantly behind the frontrunners.
The leads remain provisional, and the final outcome will depend on the completion of all rounds of counting and the official declaration of results.