Vijay’s TVK wins both Tamil Nadu by-elections in major boost for ruling party

Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has won both seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by-elections, strengthening its position just months after coming to power in the southern Indian state.

The ruling party secured victories in Madurantakam and Dharapuram on Friday (October 9), defeating candidates from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

In Madurantakam, TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel received 74,048 votes, defeating the DMK’s I. Paranthamen, who secured 54,008 votes. The AIADMK candidate finished third with 47,450 votes.

In Dharapuram, TVK candidate P. Sathyabama won with 66,841 votes, ahead of the DMK’s S. Suganya, who received 57,370 votes. The AIADMK candidate secured 45,280 votes.

Both constituencies had previously been won by AIADMK candidates in the 2026 Assembly elections. However, the two legislators later resigned and joined Vijay’s TVK, triggering the by-elections.

The contests were widely viewed as an early test of Vijay’s political popularity following his party’s rise to power in May 2026.

The victories allow TVK to retain both seats, while the opposition AIADMK failed in its attempt to reclaim them.

In a statement on X, Mr. Vijay claimed the TVK had won without distributing money to voters or resorting to inducements. He said the results demonstrated that Tamil Nadu was a stronghold of people’s power rather than corrupt forces.

He criticised those who had alleged political deals had taken place and mocked his two-day campaign in each of the constituencies, saying voters had given them a fitting response through the results. He also claimed the party could have achieved a different outcome in the April Assembly election had the DMK government allowed him to campaign across the State.

Mr. Vijay thanked voters in both constituencies for electing the TVK candidates: Maragatham Kumaravel in Madurantakam and P. Sathyabama in Dharapuram. He also thanked alliance partners, along with party functionaries and cadres, for their work during the campaign. (Newswire)

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