Tamil Nadu by election results 2026: By-election results for two Tamil Nadu seats, Madurantakam and Dharapuram, are being announced todayInitial trends show Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay’s party, TVK, leading in both Tamil Nadu’s Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly constituencies.
Updated: October 9, 2026, 9:57 AM IST
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Tamil Nadu by election results: Thalapathy Vijay TVK leads in both Tamil Nadu seats – Madurantakam, Dharapuram (PTI image)
Tamil Nadu by election results: Thalapathy Vijay’s party, TVK, is leading in both Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies in Tamil NaduTVK candidate Margatham Kumaravel is leading in Madurantakam, and PSatyabhama is leading in DharapuramBoth won the assembly elections as AIADMK candidates, but later resigned and joined TVKFollowing which, in the by-elections, CM Vijay had given tickets to Margatham Kumaravel from Madurantakam and PSatyabhama from Dharapuram.
Counting began at 8 amPostal ballots were counted before votes recorded in electronic voting machines (EVMs)Strong rooms containing voting machines were opened in the presence of district election officers, collectors, returning officers, election observers, and candidates’ agents.
Counting in 21 rounds
Counting will take place in 21 rounds in MadurantakamFourteen tables have been set up for counting EVM votesTwo tables have been allocated for postal ballotsVoter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips will also be counted separately for verification.
A heavy police presence has been deployed at the counting centerBoth constituencies are reserved for Scheduled CastesMadurantakam is in Chengalpattu district and part of the Kanchipuram parliamentary constituency, while Dharapuram is in Tiruppur district in western Tamil Nadu.
Why are these by-elections being held?
These by-elections are being held following the resignations of KMaragatham Kumaravel and PSathyabamaThey had won the assembly elections earlier this year on AIADMK tickets from Madurantakam and Dharapuram, respectively, but later joined the TVKIn that election, Kumaravel defeated the TVK candidate in Madurantakam by 7,194 votesSathyabama won in Dharapuram, defeating her nearest DMK rival by 16,727 votes.
Their defection has put both constituencies at the center of a battle for party loyalty and electoral supportTVK has fielded these two former AIADMK MLAs from their respective constituenciesThe AIADMK has nominated Kanitha Sampath from Madurantakam and Bhanumathi from Dharapuram to retain these seats under its party bannerVoting took place on October 6 after a vigorous campaign by both ruling party and opposition leaders.
