Full Breakdown
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay Campaigns Ahead of Oct 6 Bypolls Amid Opposition Criticism
By Drooid · · How we work
Campaign Trail Highlights
On a Friday in Madurantakam, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay—founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)—stopped his motorcade at a local tea shop, interacted with residents and shared tea. He then rode a farmer’s tractor through slushy fields before returning to the main road, where waiting crowds greeted him. The roadshow covered more than 30 villages across the Madurantakam Assembly constituency, roughly 100 km from Chennai, and featured cultural programmes organized by TVK workers.
Background to the By-elections
The bypolls scheduled for October 6 were triggered after two AIADMK legislators resigned and joined TVK. In Madurantakam, MLA Maragatham Kumaravel quit the AIADMK and was renominated by TVK. In Dharapuram, MLA P. Sathyabama resigned from the AIADMK, also joined TVK, and is contesting the seat under the party’s “whistle” symbol. Both resignations created vacancies that require fresh elections under the state’s electoral calendar.
Data & Statistics
- October 6 – date of the bypolls for Madurantakam and Dharapuram.
- Over 30 villages – covered by Vijay’s Madurantakam roadshow.
- Two resignations – Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama, former AIADMK members now standing for TVK.
Opposition Criticism
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami attacked TVK at a rally in Tiruppur on September 29, accusing the state government of fearing defeat, failing to control inflation, neglecting dengue prevention, and suppressing opposition workers. He also referenced the September 27, 2025 Karur crowd-crush and a CBI investigation.
Former minister Udhayakumar (AIADMK) questioned why a legislator who won on the Two Leaves symbol was forced to resign within ten days and contest again on the TVK symbol in Dharapuram, calling it a “political betrayal.”
DMK chief M. K. Stalin criticised the government for rising prices, power cuts, deteriorating law-and-order and a decline in GST revenue, accusing Vijay of “MLA shopping” and saying promotional video reels cannot feed hungry families.
Official Statements & Responses
TVK has fielded Maragatham Kumaravel in Madurantakam and S. Suganya (DMK) in the SC-reserved Dharapuram constituency. No formal policy announcement or welfare scheme was disclosed by the chief minister during the Madurantakam visit, and TVK officials have not responded publicly to the criticisms raised by Palaniswami, Udhayakumar or Stalin.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This government will not last. Whatever you do, it is not the rulers who will be affected; it is you. If you think you can suppress us, the more you try to suppress us, the more we will rise,” — Palaniswami
- “What is the underlying reason behind making someone who won on the Two Leaves symbol resign within 10 days and fielding them again on the TVK symbol in Dharapuram? Will the chief minister explain this to the people of the constituency,” — Udhayakumar
What’s Next
The bypolls will be held on October 6. TVK’s candidates are Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam) and P. Sathyabama (Dharapuram). The DMK has nominated lawyer S. Suganya for Dharapuram. Both AIADMK and DMK have pledged to mobilize voters and challenge TVK’s incumbency, while the chief minister continues his constituency-wide outreach in the weeks leading up to the vote.