After the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, the much-anticipated by-election was the Dharapuram and Madurantakam by-election. The candidates who had contested and won on behalf of the AIADMK resigned from their posts within just 11 days, left the AIADMK, and joined the TVK. Following that, by-elections were announced for the vacant single-member constituencies of Dharapuram and Madurantakam, and in a five-cornered contest, TVK, DMK, AIADMK, Naam Tamilar, and Communist parties entered the fray.
The voting for this highly anticipated by-election took place on the 6th. Following that, the votes cast in both constituencies have been counted and the results have been announced. In both constituencies, the ruling TVK candidates have won.
After these election results, there is also talk that alliance calculations could change. Under the name 'Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance,' the Congress, VCK, IUML, and MDMK parties contested this by-election together.
However, the Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK, entered the fray almost on their own, without most of the other parties that had been with them. Moreover, in this by-election, G.K. Vasan, who was in alliance with the AIADMK, had openly expressed support for TVK. Therefore, based on the count of parties, the TVK alliance was the stronger one. The left parties that had extended outside support for TVK to form government contested this election independently. They also strongly criticized the TVK government during the campaign. Therefore, it is said that after this election result, there may be some changes in the left parties’ stance on support.
Moreover, when the government was formed, announcements were made in the Governor’s address itself in a way that fulfilled PMK’s demand that a caste-wise census be conducted. Also, the importance given to Sowmya Anbumani in the Assembly shows that TVK had PMK firmly under its control.
When Maragatham Kumaravel resigned, Anbumani said that a candidate should be fielded against her. Anbumani, who had been in the AIADMK alliance in the assembly election, later backtracked, saying, 'We do not support any party in the by-election.' At the same time, after the election was announced, reports were leaked that PMK MLA Soumya Anbumani would become a minister. In addition, given that PMK did not extend support to the AIADMK, there has also been talk that the party may join the TVK alliance.
Meanwhile, Thirumavalavan, who criticized these reports as being deliberately leaked, said in a video that the TVK-VCK alliance is strong and that support will continue.
However, it is said that the TVK leadership is upset with the actions of alliance parties such as the VCK, which criticizes the decisions of the TVK government, and the dissenting Left parties. During the previous DMK regime, the Communist parties in the ruling alliance did not strongly oppose the then DMK government. But now they are sharply criticizing the TVK government at every opportunity. The effort to bring the Communist parties into the alliance they created also did not succeed. Although the ruling side was dissatisfied with some alliance parties, including the Communists, on many issues, silence was the response because their support was necessary to retain power. However, if the ruling side wins the two constituencies it has now secured and also wins the remaining five constituencies, it cannot always expect the same silence from them. The Communist parties have also realized this, which is why they entered this election. There is no doubt that the current election results will certainly have an impact on the DMK-AIADMK alliance calculations; however, whether they will affect the TVK side can only be known after the by-elections in the remaining constituencies are completed and, if those results also favor that party, then it can be expected.
Whatever it is, this is politics after all.... Anything can happen! Let’s wait and see.