Vijay celebrates, Stalin & EPS criticise Madurantakam, Dharapuram bypoll results
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, has won the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly by-elections, strengthening its position in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The Friday results also marked the return of two former AIADMK legislators who switched to TVK after winning their seats earlier this year.
In Madurantakam, TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel secured 74,048 votes, finishing 20,040 votes ahead of DMK nominee E Paranthaman, who polled 54,008. AIADMK’s Kanitha Sampath came third with 47,450 votes.
Dharapuram witnessed a tighter contest. TVK’s P Sathyabama won with 66,841 votes, defeating DMK candidate Suganya, who received 57,370. AIADMK nominee K Bhanumathi secured 45,280 votes after initially leading during the counting process.
Kumaravel and Sathyabama had previously won these constituencies on AIADMK tickets in April. Their subsequent resignations and move to TVK necessitated the by-elections. Their victories this time enabled them to return to the Assembly under their new political affiliation.
Vijay celebrated the outcome alongside ministers at the Secretariat, while party supporters organised celebrations across Tamil Nadu. In his response, he presented the results as a reflection of public confidence in TVK and stressed that the victories had been achieved without paying voters.
The Chief Minister also said the mandate should not be viewed simply as a personal triumph or a victory for his party. Instead, he characterised it as a public response to personal attacks, derogatory remarks about women and broader political conduct.
Congress state president Manickam Tagore described the outcome as voters’ assessment of Vijay’s first four months in office. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan interpreted the victories as support for the ruling Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance.
Opposition leaders, however, challenged that interpretation. DMK president M K Stalin called the outcome an interim win for political betrayal and predicted that politics built around an artificial public image would eventually decline.
Stalin alleged that TVK had benefited from government machinery, financial resources and police influence. He also questioned Vijay’s extensive campaigning in the constituencies and argued that the combined votes of parties opposing TVK exceeded the ruling party’s tally. TVK has denied allegations of using money to influence voters.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also criticised TVK, attributing its victories to the advantages of being in power and other electoral tactics. He maintained that the result was a temporary setback for his party.
The twin victories give TVK an early political boost, although the competing claims from the ruling party and Opposition suggest that the results are likely to remain a subject of debate in Tamil Nadu politics.