Final candidate lists for the Dharapuram and Madurantakam Assembly by-elections have been released, triggering an intense campaign on the ground. With multiple parties in the fray, the contest is shaping up as a five-cornered fight, and major parties have begun deploying senior leaders and star speakers.
The by-polls are scheduled for next month on the 6th, following the resignation of six AIADMK MLAs who later joined the ruling TVK. Of these, elections are being held only in Dharapuram and Madurantakam. Nominations were filed from September 9 to 16, and the final list was confirmed after the withdrawal deadline.
In Dharapuram, TVK has fielded Sathyabama, DMK has named Suganya, AIADMK is contesting with Banumathi, NTK has put up Karthika, and the Communist Party of India has nominated Lakshmanan, among a total of 22 candidates. In Madurantakam, TVK’s candidate is Maragatham Kumaravel, DMK has fielded Paranthaman, AIADMK is represented by Kanitha Sampath, NTK by Janakiraman, and the CPI(M) by Suganthi, with 27 candidates in the race.
The Election Commission has also released the list of star campaigners. TVK’s list includes Chief Minister Vijay and several ministers, along with leaders from Congress, MDMK, VCK and the Muslim League. DMK has named its top leadership including Stalin, Durai Murugan, T.R. Baalu, K.N. Nehru, Kanimozhi and Udhayanidhi, while AIADMK has announced Edappadi K. Palaniswami and other senior leaders.
Alliance equations have shifted since the last Assembly election, with Congress, VCK and the Muslim League now aligned with TVK. The CPI(M) and CPI, which extend outside support to the TVK government, are contesting independently in both seats. PMK, previously in the AIADMK alliance, has said it will not support anyone in the by-polls, a move seen as significant particularly in Madurantakam. With about 15 days of campaigning still left, door-to-door canvassing and sharp political messaging have intensified in both constituencies.
