DMK elated despite by-poll losses, sees itself as main challenger to TVK

The bypoll results for the two Assembly seats of Dharapuram and Madurantakam, declared on Friday, went in favour of the ruling TVK. However, the main Opposition DMK is also elated with the results.

In Dharapuram, which the AIADMK won in May 2026, the DMK finished second with 32.20% of the votes. In the bypoll, while the AIADMK lost the seat to the TVK, the DMK largely held its vote share at 31.78%, retaining second position.

Madurantakam was never a DMK bastion, and the party has not won the seat since 2016. In 2021, it did not contest the seat, leaving it to alliance partner MDMK. In May 2026, it finished third behind the TVK with 28.14% of the votes, while the AIADMK won the seat.


On Friday, while the TVK won the seat, the DMK stood second with 29.14% of the votes, relegating the AIADMK to third position. Sources in the DMK told ET that party leaders feel they have emerged as the real Opposition to the TVK-ruled government and that the main contest in the future will be between the TVK and the DMK, as the AIADMK is losing its appeal.

After the bypoll results were announced, DMK president MK Stalin posted a lengthy statement on X. He criticised the TVK government for using government power to win the elections. "...As far as I am concerned, betrayal has secured an interim victory. At the same time, the downfall of fake image politics has begun...," he wrote.