Win against money power: Vijay thanks voters after TVK shines in Tamil Nadu bypolls

Both TVK candidates had won their seats on AIADMK tickets in the April 2026 Assembly elections. They resigned their seats and joined the ruling TVK on May 25, necessitating the bypolls.

In Short

• Maragatham Kumaravel leading in Madurantakam after 18 counting rounds
• Sathyabama wins Dharapuram by a margin of over 9,000 votes
• Both candidates resigned from AIADMK before joining the ruling TVK

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay congratulated TVK’s candidates in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls, describing the outcome as a victory against derogatory remarks about women, personal attacks and political betrayal.

His message came as TVK’s P Sathyabama won Dharapuram, defeating DMK’s Suganya by over 9,000 votes, while K Maragatham Kumaravel widened her lead in Madurantakam.

“This victory belongs neither to me, Vijay, as an individual, nor solely to the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam. It is, entirely, a victory against the slanderous remarks made about women; a victory against the personal attacks conducted in a derogatory manner; and a victory against the betrayal of unblemished leaders and their cadres,” he said.

After the 18th round of counting in Madurantakam, Kumaravel led by 18,427 votes. She secured 64,578 votes, followed by DMK’s I Paranthamen with 46,151 and AIADMK’s S Kanithasampath with 40,731.

Both TVK candidates had won their seats on AIADMK tickets in the April 2026 Assembly elections. They resigned their seats and joined the ruling TVK on May 25, necessitating the bypolls.

VIJAY HITS BACK AT RIVALS

Vijay said voters had rejected cash-for-votes allegations against TVK and answered those who mocked its two-day campaign. He claimed the party had secured support without paying for votes or using the “Thirumangalam or Erode East formula”.

The “Thirumangalam formula” refers to alleged organised cash distribution during the 2009 bypoll, including reports of money delivered in envelopes concealed in newspapers. The “Erode East formula” refers to allegations that voters were gathered at designated locations and offered cash, food and gifts during the 2023 bypoll.

The candidates’ switch from the AIADMK to TVK had dominated the campaign. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami accused them of betraying voters, while DMK chief MK Stalin said their resignations had forced fresh elections.

During the campaign, Vijay urged voters to reject what he called “evil forces” and “exhausted forces”. He criticised Stalin’s remarks about Sathyabama as demeaning to women and questioned the AIADMK’s stance towards the DMK.

In his congratulatory message, Vijay also accused the DMK of preventing TVK from campaigning across Tamil Nadu during the April Assembly elections, questioning what the outcome would have been had it been allowed to do so.

“This is a victory for political civility. A victory for individual dignity. Above all, a victory for the people. A victory for the voters,” he said.

He thanked voters, alliance partners Congress, VCK, MMK and the Indian Union Muslim League, along with ministers and party workers who campaigned in both constituencies.

- Ends