TVK’s Dharapuram candidate P. Sathyabama broke down on 30 Sep 2026 while speaking about online attacks after joining TVK; CM Vijay placed his hand on hers and stood beside her.
TVK’s Dharapuram by-election candidate P. Sathyabama broke down on stage on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, while defending her decision to join the ruling party — and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, standing beside her, comforted her by placing his hand on hers and standing with her in silence.
Speaking from the Chief Minister’s campaign vehicle, Sathyabama said she had faced personal attacks and abuse on social media after resigning as an MLA and joining TVK, and that she had not looked at her mobile phone for about two months because of the online trolling (PTI, DT Next).
She said she had been a loyalist of the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, and had resigned because she was anguished by a proposal from her former party’s leadership to join hands with the DMK to form a government. Describing Vijay as a “clean leader” who became Chief Minister without giving away even a rupee to lure voters, she asked whether such a leader would have allowed horse-trading for her entry into TVK. “If I had betrayed the people, how could I have the courage to stand before you and seek votes?” she asked, breaking down in tears (PTI, DT Next).
As she struggled to continue, Vijay placed a reassuring hand on hers and stood beside her in silence. Video of the moment was widely shared (Thanthi TV, The Week). In his own address, the Chief Minister said it was out of anguish that Sathyabama had quit her MLA post, and asked voters to elect her.
Sathyabama won Dharapuram for the AIADMK in May 2026 with 81,100 votes, resigned on May 25 and joined TVK the same day. She now faces 21 other candidates in the October 6 by-election; counting is on October 9.
Sources: PTI (via ThePrint), DT Next, Thanthi TV, The Week. Statements are the speaker’s own.
By-Election Dharapuram Day 143