TN bypolls 2026: Madurantakam at 55.19%, Dharapuram at 56.09% by 1 pm
Synopsis
The TVK's first major electoral test since Chief Minister Vijay took office is underway — two Scheduled Caste-reserved seats in Tamil Nadu where the ruling party's own candidates are sitting legislators who resigned from AIADMK and crossed the floor. With turnout already past 55% by midday and 49 candidates in the mix, the 9 October results will set the early political temperature in the state.
Key Takeaways
Madurantakam recorded 55.19% turnout and Dharapuram recorded 56.09% turnout by 1 pm on 6 October 2026 .
Both seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and fell vacant after sitting AIADMK MLAs defected to the TVK .
Madurantakam has 27 candidates and 2,13,788 registered voters; Dharapuram has 22 candidates and 2,23,306 registered voters.
A bypoll in Puducherry's Thattanchavady constituency is also being held simultaneously.
Votes in all three constituencies will be counted on 9 October 2026 .
Polling in Tamil Nadu's two Assembly by-elections — Madurantakam and Dharapuram — recorded voter turnout of 55.19% and 56.09%, respectively, by 1 pm on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, according to election authorities. Voting commenced at 7 am and is scheduled to continue until 6 pm, with the contests widely regarded as an early electoral test for Chief Minister Vijay's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the principal opposition blocs.
Why These Seats Fell Vacant
Both constituencies — Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district — are reserved for Scheduled Castes. The vacancies arose after sitting AIADMK legislators K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned their seats and defected to the TVK. Both are now contesting as the ruling party's candidates, seeking fresh mandates from the same constituencies that returned them earlier.
Madurantakam: Candidates and Infrastructure
Madurantakam has 2,13,788 registered voters — 1,04,926 men, 1,08,797 women and 65 transgender persons. Voting is being conducted across 285 polling stations, with election authorities deploying 342 electronic voting machines, including a 20% reserve. A total of 27 candidates, including 17 Independents, are in the fray. The principal contenders are K. Maragatham Kumaravel (TVK), S. Kanitha Sampath (AIADMK), I. Paranthamen (DMK), P. Suganthi (CPI(M)), and G. Janakiraman (Naam Tamilar Katchi / NTK).
Dharapuram: Candidates and Infrastructure
Dharapuram has 2,23,306 registered electors — 1,07,285 men, 1,16,013 women and 8 transgender persons — spread across 320 polling stations in 186 centres. 22 candidates are contesting the seat. The leading contestants are P. Sathyabama (TVK), K. Banumathi (AIADMK), S. Suganya (DMK), P. Lakshmanan (CPI), and M. Karthika (NTK). Together, the two Tamil Nadu constituencies field 49 candidates in multi-cornered contests that have drawn sustained political attention across the state.
Puducherry Bypoll Running Simultaneously
Polling is also underway in Puducherry's Thattanchavady Assembly constituency on the same day. The vacancy arose after Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who won two seats in the Assembly election, retained Mangalam and vacated Thattanchavady. Notably, all three constituencies — across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry — will see their votes counted on 9 October 2026, with results expected the same day.
What the Results Could Signal
For the TVK, a strong performance in both Tamil Nadu seats — where its own defecting legislators are the candidates — would consolidate Chief Minister Vijay's political standing ahead of the state's legislative calendar. A setback, however, could embolden AIADMK and DMK challenges. The outcome on 9 October will be closely watched as an early indicator of how Tamil Nadu's shifting party alignments are playing out at the grassroots.
Point of View
Complicating any future alliance arithmetic. Watch the second- and third-place finishes as much as the winner on 9 October.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Tamil Nadu bypolls being held on 6 October 2026?
The bypolls are for two Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies — Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district — both reserved for Scheduled Castes. The seats fell vacant after AIADMK legislators K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned and joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
What was the voter turnout in Madurantakam and Dharapuram by 1 pm?
Madurantakam recorded 55.19% turnout and Dharapuram recorded 56.09% turnout by 1 pm on 6 October 2026, according to election authorities. Polling runs from 7 am to 6 pm.
When will the results of the Tamil Nadu bypolls be announced?
Votes in Madurantakam, Dharapuram, and Puducherry's Thattanchavady constituency will be counted on 9 October 2026, with results expected the same day.
Who are the main candidates in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls?
In Madurantakam, the key candidates are K. Maragatham Kumaravel (TVK), S. Kanitha Sampath (AIADMK), I. Paranthamen (DMK), P. Suganthi (CPI(M)), and G. Janakiraman (NTK). In Dharapuram, the leading contestants are P. Sathyabama (TVK), K. Banumathi (AIADMK), S. Suganya (DMK), P. Lakshmanan (CPI), and M. Karthika (NTK).
Why is the Puducherry Thattanchavady seat also going to a bypoll?
Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy won two Assembly seats in the last election and, as required, retained Mangalam while vacating Thattanchavady, triggering the bypoll. The result will also be declared on 9 October 2026.
