Tamil Nadu byelection campaigns end ahead of Madurantakam and Dharapuram vote
Campaigning has ended in Tamil Nadu’s Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies, with polling scheduled for October 6. The contests feature five groupings and 49 candidates, while recent defections and changed alliance alignments have reshaped the political fight before voting and counting on October 9.
Campaigning ended on Sunday evening in the Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram, with voters due to cast ballots on October 6. The two seats became vacant after AIADMK legislators Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned on May 25, less than three weeks after being elected.
Both subsequently joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and are contesting the byelections for that party. The polls feature a five-way contest involving the TVK-led Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance. The Left front is contesting separately, as is the Naam Tamilar Katchi.
On the final campaign day, TVK president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay held a roadshow in Dharapuram in support of Sathyabama. TVK leaders, including Minister Aadhav Arjuna, campaigned for Kumaravel in Madurantakam.
DMK president M.K. Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami issued video appeals for their candidates.
Left-party and Naam Tamilar Katchi leaders also concluded their campaigning. The TVK assigned nearly all ministers as election in-charges in the two constituencies. The campaign has included extensive activity by Vijay, who addressed public meetings and conducted roadshows in both areas.
Palaniswami and AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran also campaigned extensively for the AIADMK side, while the DMK deployed former ministers to supervise its work. The alliance structure differs from the previous election.
Congress, MDMK, VCK and IUML, previously part of the DMK-led alliance, are now with the TVK-led grouping. Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), formerly aligned with the NDA, is supporting TVK. The AIADMK has accused TVK of engineering the legislators’ defections, while PMK has chosen not to support any alliance.
There are 27 candidates in Madurantakam and 22 in Dharapuram. Polling is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with counting set for October 9.
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