Chennai, September 15 (Daily Kiran) : The AIADMK is optimistic about securing victories in the upcoming by-elections for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies, according to General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. He emphasized that these areas are traditional strongholds for the party.
In a statement on social media, Palaniswami noted that the AIADMK had won both seats in the 2026 assembly elections and continues to enjoy substantial grassroots support. He expressed confidence that voters will rally behind the party once again, despite the changing political landscape that has led to these by-elections.
Voting for these Scheduled Caste-reserved constituencies is set for October 6, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 9. These seats became vacant following the resignations of AIADMK legislators Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam) and P. Sathiyabama (Dharapuram), who joined the Tamilaga Vetri Katchi (TVK) led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
The TVK has fielded the two former AIADMK members as candidates in their respective constituencies. The ruling party anticipates that its local networks, the popularity of Chief Minister Vijay, and the strength of its “Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance” will aid in retaining both seats under a new political banner.
The DMK has nominated Advocate I. Paranthamen for Madurantakam and Advocate S. Suganya for Dharapuram. Meanwhile, the AIADMK has put forth former MLA Kanitha Sampath for Madurantakam and Bhanumathi for Dharapuram. These contests are politically significant for Palaniswami, especially as his party has faced challenges such as defections, internal discord, and scrutiny over his control of the legislative group since the state elections.
Since the elections, six AIADMK legislators have resigned or left the party, strengthening the ruling TVK and increasing pressure on the opposition. A win in these two constituencies would help the AIADMK demonstrate that its organizational base remains strong despite the departures.
Palaniswami also highlighted ongoing issues with power outages, stating that they have caused significant hardships for residents, including mosquito disturbances at night and disruptions to students’ studies. He criticized the government for failing to ensure uninterrupted power supply, despite promoting its investment record abroad, and urged the administration to take corrective measures to alleviate further disruptions for households, businesses, and students.
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