Stalin accuses TVK government of forcing Dharapuram byelection for political gain

DMK president M.K. Stalin has accused Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of forcing the Dharapuram byelection for political gain.

Campaigning for DMK candidate S. Suganya on Friday, Stalin described the election as the result of horse-trading and a “murder of democracy”. He said the constituency’s earlier vote had been rendered ineffective only months after the general election.

Stalin urged voters to choose Suganya, a lawyer, whom he described as capable of representing local concerns in the Assembly. He called the byelection a waste of public money and said it gave voters an opportunity to punish the TVK. He criticised TVK candidate P.

Sathyabama’s move from the AIADMK to the ruling party as a political “somersault”. Sathyabama had won the seat for the AIADMK before resigning and seeking re-election under the TVK banner. Stalin also attacked Vijay’s political style, saying the Chief Minister had moved from acting in films to performing before voters.

He accused the TVK of being close to the BJP and described it as a corporate organisation rather than a conventional political party. The DMK leader levelled broader allegations against the state government, including claims of worsening law and order, drug-related killings, sexual abuse, custodial deaths and honour killings. He also said industrial investment was moving towards Andhra Pradesh.

He warned that a TVK victory would lead to increases in registration taxes, milk prices and transport fares, although the source material gave no evidence for those predictions. The Dharapuram byelection is scheduled for October 6, with results expected on October 9.