Polling for the two vacant seats in Madurantakam and Dharapuram is scheduled for Oct. 6, and campaign activities wrapped up on Tuesday, officials said【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】. The by‑elections were triggered after the sitting legislators, both elected on AIADMK tickets, resigned within three weeks of taking office【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】.
The former AIADMK legislators have since joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and are contesting the by‑polls on its behalf【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】.
Three major alliances will field candidates in the contests. The TVK‑led Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, the DMK‑led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK‑led National Democratic Alliance are all in the fray【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】. The Left front is contesting separately, while the Naam Tamilar Katchi is running its own candidate【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】.
The composition of these alliances has shifted since the last assembly election. The Congress, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League, which were part of the DMK‑led alliance, have moved to the TVK‑led bloc【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】. Similarly, the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), previously aligned with the NDA, is now extending support to TVK【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】. The Pattali Makkal Katchi, a key NDA constituent with influence in northern and western Tamil Nadu, has declined to back any alliance in these contests【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】.
Both M. K. Stalin, chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin campaigned in the two constituencies during the final stretch of the campaign【https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece】.
The by‑election will test the newly re‑aligned political arithmetic ahead of the state’s next general election, with voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram set to cast ballots on Oct. 6.
Sources
– The Hindu, “Campaigning for byelection ends in Madurantakam and Dharapuram,” Oct. 4, 2026, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/campaigning-for-byelection-ends-in-madurantakam-and-dharapuram/article71543705.ece
Source: The Hindu – National
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Story synopsis gathered from: The Hindu – National — source
