October 6 by-poll sets stage for 3-months-old TVK govt's first electoral test

Chennai: The October 6 by-election to two Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu will mark the crucial first electoral test for the three-month-old Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government.

The poll battle in the high-stakes contest in Madurantakam and Dharapuram remains to be seen if the former AIADMK legislators who resigned as MLAs shortly after the April Assembly election results were declared and joined the TVK would be given the party tickets or whether the TVK would nominate its "loyal" candidates.

The Election Commission of India has announced by-poll for Madurantakam and Dharapuram seats following the resignation of Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, respectively. Both had joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party the day they tendered their resignation letters to Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar, announcing their decision to quit the AIADMK.


Also read: SC-ST MPs of Congress decide to petition president on 'purification' row

The state has a tradition of the ruling parties having a strong advantage in by-polls but the TVK faces a complex web of coalition friction, aggressive opposition, and critical legislative math as it enters the campaign trail.

Functioning as a post-poll coalition after falling short of a simple majority in the Assembly in May 2026, the TVK formed the government with the support of the Congress, VCK, IUML and the Left parties. The cross-voting by 22 AIADMK rebel legislators helped the Vijay government to secure a total of 144 "ayes" from the MLAs, thus successfully passing the floor test.

Currently holding 107 seats in the 234-member Assembly, the TVK relies on external support to stay ahead of the 118-seat simple majority mark.

The TVK is presently navigating internal strains with the Congress party which is threatening to reconsider its cabinet participation if its leader, Rahul Gandhi, is not accepted as the alliance's Prime Ministerial candidate for 2029, amidst growing voices within the TVK pitching for Vijay as Prime Ministerial candidate.

The CPI has staged protests over inflation.

For the AIADMK, the contest is likely to be deeply personal as it seeks to reclaim seats lost through the members' defections.

The DMK may aim to capitalise on early administrative vulnerabilities to halt the TVK's expansion.Securing both the seats is numerically vital for the TVK to consolidate its legislative strength and cushion itself against volatile coalition shifts.

The two seats are among the seven vacancies in the state Assembly. By-elections have not been announced for Tiruchirappalli East (surrendered by Vijay), Ambasamudram, Viralimalai, Perundurai, and Karur - following the resignation of AIADMK lawmakers.

Also read: DMK stages sit-in over Vijay’s MISA remarks, Speaker orders marshals to remove MLAs

The notification has brought the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies.

As per the ECI's schedule, the filing of nominations will take place from September 9 to 16, scrutiny of the papers on September 17, and the last date for withdrawal is September 19. Following by-poll on October 6, votes will be counted on October 9.