- TVK won both Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls
- DMK came second in both constituencies
- Sathyabama won Dharapuram by 9,471 votes over DMK's S Suganya
- TVK's Assembly strength rises to 109; majority mark is 118
- AIADMK alleged the win reflected official power and money politics
Tamil Nadu’s ruling TVK won both Assembly bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram as counting went on Friday. The DMK came second in both seats.
The bypolls were the first big test for Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s new TVK government, formed after the May 2026 Assembly elections.
Dharapuram race tightens, then TVK pulls ahead
Dharapuram was close at first. The AIADMK moved into the lead after several rounds, but TVK nominee P Sathyabama then established a clear lead.
Sathyabama polled 66,841 votes, or 37.02 per cent. She won by 9,471 votes against DMK’s S Suganya. AIADMK’s K Banumathi was third with 45,280 votes, or 25.08 per cent.
Sathyabama had also won Dharapuram in May, with 81,100 votes. Her winning margin this time was smaller than the 16,727 votes she won by then.
Madurantakam and turnout
In Madurantakam, TVK’s K Maragatham Kumaravel beat DMK’s I Paranthamen.
Voting was held on 6 October. By 11 am, Madurantakam had recorded 35.55 per cent turnout and Dharapuram 37.28 per cent.
What the win means for TVK
With the two seats, TVK’s Assembly strength rises to 109. The majority mark is 118, so the party is nine short.
Vijay said the win was secured through affection and transparent campaigning. He said TVK won the seats without spending a single paisa.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said TVK had won the bypolls by a “shortcut”. He said the result reflected official power and money politics.
The DMK and AIADMK have accused Vijay of misusing power to win. Stalin also questioned Vijay’s silence on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Alliances in the fight
The PMK, part of the AIADMK-led NDA, has stayed neutral in both seats. NDA ally AMMK is backing AIADMK candidates in both constituencies.
