Key Highlights
- Early trend: TVK leads in both Madurantakam and Dharapuram on postal ballots; DMK is second and AIADMK third.
- Provisional: Postal ballot trends are early; EVM rounds will decide the outcome.
- Why bypolls: Both seats fell vacant after AIADMK MLAs K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned and joined TVK.
- Same faces, new party: TVK has fielded both former MLAs in their old seats.
- Big test: The results are the first electoral test for Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s government.
Counting of votes in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls began at 8 am on Friday, with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) taking an early lead in both seats. The DMK was second and the AIADMK third in postal ballot trends.
These early positions are provisional. Postal ballots were counted first, and the EVM rounds will give a clearer picture as the day progresses.
At Madurantakam, 14 tables have been set up to count EVM votes over 21 rounds, with two tables for postal ballots. VVPAT slips will also be counted separately for verification. Police have been deployed in strength at the counting centre.
The Two Seats
| Constituency | District | Reserved for | 2026 Assembly winner (AIADMK) | Winning margin | Now contesting for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madurantakam | Chengalpattu | SC | K. Maragatham Kumaravel | 7,194 (over TVK) | TVK |
| Dharapuram | Tiruppur | SC | P. Sathyabama | 16,727 (over DMK) | TVK |
The AIADMK has fielded Kanitha Sampath in Madurantakam and Bhanumathi in Dharapuram to try and retain the seats. Polling was held on October 6.
Why It Matters: A Referendum on Switching Sides
These bypolls test more than the new government. Both candidates won earlier this year on AIADMK tickets, then resigned, joined TVK and are now seeking re-election under their new party. Voters’ verdict will show whether people back the candidate, the party they left, or the party they joined.
The Madurantakam result will be watched closely. Earlier this year, Kumaravel beat the TVK candidate there by 7,194 votes. If she now wins on a TVK ticket, it would show a significant swing towards the ruling party in a seat it lost months ago.
The Numbers at Stake
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, short of the 118 needed for a majority on its own. Winning both seats would take its tally to 110. That would not change the majority arithmetic, but it would strengthen the party’s position and its claim of growing public support.
For the DMK and AIADMK, the results are a chance to show their strength against the new government.
The Bottom Line
Early trends favour TVK, but the EVM rounds will decide whether Chief Minister Vijay’s party passes its first electoral test, and whether voters reward or punish the switch from AIADMK.
With inputs from IANS.
This is a developing story and will be updated as counting progresses.
Key Highlights
- Early trend: TVK leads in both Madurantakam and Dharapuram on postal ballots; DMK is second and AIADMK third.
- Provisional: Postal ballot trends are early; EVM rounds will decide the outcome.
- Why bypolls: Both seats fell vacant after AIADMK MLAs K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned and joined TVK.
- Same faces, new party: TVK has fielded both former MLAs in their old seats.
- Big test: The results are the first electoral test for Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s government.
Counting of votes in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls began at 8 am on Friday, with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) taking an early lead in both seats. The DMK was second and the AIADMK third in postal ballot trends.
These early positions are provisional. Postal ballots were counted first, and the EVM rounds will give a clearer picture as the day progresses.
At Madurantakam, 14 tables have been set up to count EVM votes over 21 rounds, with two tables for postal ballots. VVPAT slips will also be counted separately for verification. Police have been deployed in strength at the counting centre.
The Two Seats
| Constituency | District | Reserved for | 2026 Assembly winner (AIADMK) | Winning margin | Now contesting for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madurantakam | Chengalpattu | SC | K. Maragatham Kumaravel | 7,194 (over TVK) | TVK |
| Dharapuram | Tiruppur | SC | P. Sathyabama | 16,727 (over DMK) | TVK |
The AIADMK has fielded Kanitha Sampath in Madurantakam and Bhanumathi in Dharapuram to try and retain the seats. Polling was held on October 6.
Why It Matters: A Referendum on Switching Sides
These bypolls test more than the new government. Both candidates won earlier this year on AIADMK tickets, then resigned, joined TVK and are now seeking re-election under their new party. Voters’ verdict will show whether people back the candidate, the party they left, or the party they joined.
The Madurantakam result will be watched closely. Earlier this year, Kumaravel beat the TVK candidate there by 7,194 votes. If she now wins on a TVK ticket, it would show a significant swing towards the ruling party in a seat it lost months ago.
The Numbers at Stake
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, short of the 118 needed for a majority on its own. Winning both seats would take its tally to 110. That would not change the majority arithmetic, but it would strengthen the party’s position and its claim of growing public support.
For the DMK and AIADMK, the results are a chance to show their strength against the new government.
The Bottom Line
Early trends favour TVK, but the EVM rounds will decide whether Chief Minister Vijay’s party passes its first electoral test, and whether voters reward or punish the switch from AIADMK.
With inputs from IANS.
This is a developing story and will be updated as counting progresses.