TVK wins both Tamil Nadu by-elections

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won both Tamil Nadu Assembly by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam finishing second and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam third in each contest. The results gave the ruling party a boost after it retained seats previously won by the same candidates under the AIADMK banner. Election Commission figures cited in reports put TVK candidate P. Sathyabama’s Dharapuram victory at 66,841 votes. In Madurantakam, TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel also won; the reports identify her as the winner but do not provide a consistent final vote total. The DMK’s I. Paranthamen and S. Suganya finished second in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, respectively, while the AIADMK candidates placed third. The by-elections were held on October 6, five months after the Assembly election. Kumaravel and Sathyabama had won their seats as AIADMK candidates, then resigned as legislators, joined TVK and were renominated by their new party. Their departures and candidacies became a point of criticism from opposition parties during the campaign.