Chief Minister Vijay Campaigns Heavily as Tamil Nadu Bypolls Test TVK Dominance
Chief ministers do not ordinarily spend four days campaigning for two Assembly by-elections. However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay has done exactly that, signaling the high stakes involved in the upcoming polls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram.
With voting scheduled for October 6, Vijay has dedicated two days to addressing public rallies and another two days to roadshows. His campaign included a 45-kilometer journey through more than 30 villages in the Madurantakam constituency. This intense personal involvement stands in contrast to his limited campaign appearances during the April Assembly election that brought him to power, when several of his scheduled rallies were cancelled and much of the local campaigning was left to candidates and other party leaders.
Inside the ruling TVK, expectations have risen alongside the Chief Minister's efforts. A senior TVK leader noted that with Vijay campaigning personally, the party should aim to secure 50 percent of the votes. The outcome of these two by-elections, with votes set to be counted on October 9, is expected to have broader implications for the state's political landscape.
The Battle for Defected Seats
Both the Madurantakam and Dharapuram seats were vacated by legislators who won on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) tickets in April, only to resign weeks later and defect to the TVK. The same two politicians—Maragatham Kumaravel in Madurantakam and P Sathyabama in Dharapuram—are now contesting the by-elections as TVK candidates.
For the ruling TVK, a victory would suggest that voters have followed these politicians to their new party, validating the narrative that the center of Tamil Nadu politics has shifted toward Vijay since he took office in May. Conversely, a defeat in either seat could complicate this narrative and potentially slow the defection of AIADMK functionaries to the TVK.
Since the April Assembly elections, where the TVK won 108 seats—falling 10 short of an absolute majority in the 234-member House—the party has actively drawn former ministers, legislators, and local functionaries from the weakened AIADMK. A successful by-election outcome is seen as crucial to maintaining this political momentum.
Strategic Outreach and Opposition Criticism
Vijay's hands-on campaign strategy included village stops, direct interactions with residents, a tractor ride, and stopping for tea at a roadside shop. TVK leaders believe that while male voters may remain loyal to established party lines, there is significant room to expand support among female voters, making personal outreach vital.
The opposition has seized on the circumstances of the by-elections to attack the ruling party. The AIADMK has focused its campaign on labeling Sathyabama a "traitor" for resigning shortly after winning her seat under their banner. The party questions why voters should be asked to re-elect the same individual under a different party label just five months later.
Former Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M K Stalin has echoed these criticisms, describing the by-elections as a result of the "death of democracy." He criticized the TVK for forcing voters back to the polling booths before the indelible ink from the general election had fully faded.
Shifting Alliances and Existential Stakes
The DMK enters these by-elections without the broad alliance it held during the April Assembly election. Former allies such as the Congress, VCK, MDMK, and IUML have moved into the TVK's political orbit, while the CPI and CPI(M) are contesting the by-elections independently. Even without a victory, a substantial increase in vote share while contesting largely alone would allow the DMK to argue that its core electoral strength remains intact.
For the AIADMK, the stakes are existential. Having previously held both seats, the party faces the risk of seeing its former representatives win the same constituencies under the TVK banner. Such an outcome would suggest that the AIADMK label is no longer necessary for these politicians to secure victories.
Meanwhile, the campaign has been hit by allegations of electoral malpractice. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin accused the TVK of distributing cash in Dharapuram, alleging that money was transported in tiffin boxes. CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam also stated that villagers reported multiple parties distributing money, with the TVK allegedly paying the most. The TVK has categorically denied these allegations, asserting its opposition to cash-for-votes politics.
The political landscape is further complicated by the positions of the Left parties. While the CPI and CPI(M) support Vijay's government from the outside, they are actively fielding candidates against the TVK in these by-elections. The PMK has chosen to remain neutral amid ongoing discussions regarding its future relationship with the ruling party.
