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Tamil Nadu By-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram: Turnout, Tensions and Technical Hiccups
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Election Day Overview
On October 6, 2026, voters in the Madurantakam (Chengalpattu district) and Dharapuram (Tiruppur district) Assembly constituencies cast ballots in by-elections triggered by the resignation of former AIADMK MLA Maragatham Kumaravel, who now contests for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Polling concluded at 6 p.m. under heavy police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) presence, with isolated disruptions quickly resolved by election officials.
Background & Candidate Line-up
The TVK fields Maragatham Kumaravel in Madurantakam, while the constituency’s former AIADMK winner P. Sathyabama contests again under the TVK banner after winning 40.56 % of 199,944 votes in the April-May Assembly election. The DMK fields I. Paranthamen, who denied allegations of horse-trading and cited screenshots of a voter-targeting message. The AIADMK fields S. Kanitha Sampath, who linked lower youth turnout to rising commodity and electricity prices. CPI(M) candidate P. Suganthi highlighted shortages of drinking water, wheelchairs and “shamiana” at some booths.
Turnout and Technical Issues
Madurantakam recorded an 86.26 % turnout, down from 93.22 % in the earlier Assembly poll. Dharapuram’s 80.3 % turnout (2,23,306 voters) also lagged the 89.9 % recorded in April-May. Voter participation surged after a sluggish start, with long queues of women noted across rural and semi-urban areas. Technical glitches included a malfunctioning EVM control unit at booth 26 (Sithandi) that required two replacements, a ballot-unit swap at booth 55 (L. Endathur), and a brief pause at a Madurantakam booth after DMK agents protested alleged ink marks on an EVM button. In Dharapuram, a voter claimed an election worker prompted her to press the TVK symbol, prompting a half-hour halt at booth 137.
Official Statements & Responses
Chengalpattu Collector M. Veerappan described the polling as peaceful. Dharapuram Revenue Divisional Officer Felix Raja clarified that party agents may be stationed anywhere in a constituency provided Form 10 filings are complete, after DMK workers objected to TVK agent Saravanan’s presence. TVK functionary and former minister K.V. Ramalingam met the RDO to secure Saravanan’s continued role. Election officers inspected and cleared the ink-mark allegation at the Thandarai booth, and standby engineers resolved VVPAT and EVM connection glitches.