TVK fields former AIADMK MLA K. Maragatham Kumaravel for the Madurantakam (SC) by-election on October 6 — the same candidate who won the seat on an AIADMK ticket in 2026, then resigned and joined TVK. DMK fields I. Paranthamen, former Egmore MLA and vocal TVK critic. AIADMK and NTK also contesting. The seat vacancy was caused by Maragatham Kumaravel’s own defection.
By-Elections 2026 · Polling 6 Oct · Result 9 Oct
Madurantakam full coverage ›TVK has officially announced K. Maragatham Kumaravel as its candidate for the Madurantakam (AC No. 35, SC reserved) by-election to be held on October 6, 2026. The contest will be fought under the banner of the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance.
| Party | Candidate | Background |
|---|---|---|
| TVK (Ruling) | K. Maragatham Kumaravel | Former AIADMK MLA for Madurantakam (won 2026 election on AIADMK ticket). TVK Deputy General Secretary. Resigned as MLA and joined TVK, triggering this by-election. |
| DMK | I. Paranthamen | Former MLA from Egmore constituency. Legal wing deputy secretary. Denied ticket by DMK in 2026 general election. One of DMK’s most vocal critics of TVK. |
| AIADMK | Kanitha Sampath | Announced by EPS on September 10. AIADMK contesting to reclaim the seat it lost to defection. |
| NTK | K. Janakiraman | Naam Tamilar Katchi candidate; polled 4,950 votes here in May 2026. |
| CPI | — | Not contesting here; the CPI’s Left-front candidate is in Dharapuram. |
| CPI-M | P. Suganthi | Contesting as part of an independent Left front, outside the ruling alliance. |
Maragatham Kumaravel won Madurantakam in the 2026 Assembly election on an AIADMK ticket. After the TVK government was formed, she resigned from the AIADMK and her Assembly seat, and formally joined TVK. The Election Commission called the by-election as a result.
| 2026 General Election Result | Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIADMK (Winner) | Maragatham Kumaravel | 69,284 | 34.95% |
| TVK | Ezhil Catherine Ezhilamalai | 62,090 | 31.32% |
| DMK | S. Amulu Ponmalar | 59,838 | 30.18% |
| NTK | G. Janakiraman | 4,950 | 2.50% |
Winning margin: 7,194 votes (3.63%). Turnout: 93.36% (1,98,551 votes).
Historical note: Madurantakam has never had a by-election before — this is its first ever. AIADMK has won the seat seven times in its history. The seat has more women voters than men. Local issues include lake restoration, drinking water, bus services, and jobs for young people who now travel to Chennai for work.
17 Sep — scrutiny: 48 nominations were filed; 20 were rejected and 28 accepted. 19 Sep: withdrawals closed and the final list was set. The PMK said it would support no party in the bypolls, seen as a setback for the AIADMK.
22 Sep: after a DMK petition to the Election Commission, TVK removed VCK’s Thol. Thirumavalavan and MDMK’s Vaiko from its star-campaigner list.
25 Sep — Vijay opens the TVK campaign: at a rally near the Aathur toll plaza (moved from Acharapakkam on police advice), Vijay said he came “as your son, not as CM”. Read the full story. AIADMK’s Edappadi K. Palaniswami campaigned here on 25–26 Sep. A TVK roadshow is planned for 2 Oct.
Full dates, all candidates and every story: Madurantakam By-Election 2026 coverage page.
The DMK's choice of Paranthamen is pointed — he is one of the party's sharpest critics of Vijay and TVK, and was publicly denied a ticket in 2026 (his Egmore seat). Fielding him here signals the DMK sees Madurantakam as a winnable fight where a vocal face can maximise their vote. EPS's claim that AIADMK will win both seats is a direct challenge to the ruling alliance's narrative. TVK's task is to demonstrate that the AIADMK vote that came with Maragatham Kumaravel was transferable to the party.
Vijay's message to cadres: “I kindly request all party office-bearers and comrades to gather votes for our winning candidates with victory as the sole objective, ensuring a historically significant triumph.”
Madurantakam By-Election Oct 6 TVK vs DMK