Karti Chidambaram opposes TVK bypoll candidates in Tamil Nadu seats
Synopsis
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has publicly broken with his own alliance partner TVK, saying he personally opposes fielding AIADMK defectors in the Dharapuram and Madurantakam bypolls instead of long-standing TVK loyalists — a rare public split in an alliance whose bypolls could determine whether CM Vijay's government secures a legislative majority.
Key Takeaways
Karti Chidambaram declared on 23 September that he is 'personally not in favour' of TVK's bypoll candidates for Dharapuram and Madurantakam .
Both TVK candidates — K.
Maragatham Kumaravel and P.
Sathyabama — won earlier this year on AIADMK tickets before defecting to TVK in June .
Chidambaram argued TVK should have given tickets to its own cadre rather than rewarding defectors from a rival party.
TVK currently lacks an outright majority; victories in both seats would strengthen CM Vijay 's legislative position.
Dharapuram recorded a turnout of 88.84 per cent in the recent Assembly polls; Sathyabama won by a margin of 16,727 votes .
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Wednesday, 23 September publicly broke ranks with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) alliance by declaring he is personally opposed to the party's candidate choices for the upcoming bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. His remarks came even as he acknowledged TVK's strong popular standing in the state.
What Karti Chidambaram Said
Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Chidambaram was unambiguous in his dissent. 'I am very clear that the TVK enjoys great confidence among the people and they will win irrespective of the candidates. But, I believe that the candidates who contested and won the elections held in April-May (on AIADMK tickets) and who resigned in June (from the party) should not have been given tickets,' he said.
He went further, arguing that TVK should have rewarded its own loyal cadre rather than ticket defectors from a rival party. 'The TVK should have asked them to wait and should have given tickets to their own cadre who have been with them, their organisation or their fan club earlier. They should have been given a chance. I am personally not in favour of these two candidates contesting again,' he added.
Notably, he was careful to separate his criticism of the candidate selection from his view of the party's overall popularity, saying: 'The election results will be a reflection of the party's popularity and not necessarily a reflection of these candidates, who I think should not have been given tickets.'
Who the TVK Candidates Are
Both candidates fielded by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led TVK — K. Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam) and P. Sathyabama (Dharapuram) — had won the Assembly polls held earlier this year on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) tickets before resigning from the party in June and switching allegiance to TVK. Chidambaram's objection centres precisely on this sequence — that defectors from a rival party were preferred over long-standing TVK workers.
The Stakes in Dharapuram and Madurantakam
The bypolls carry significant weight for Chief Minister Vijay's government. TVK currently lacks an outright majority in the state legislature, and victories in both seats would directly strengthen its legislative position. The Dharapuram bypoll in Tiruppur district — the first Assembly byelection in the district — is shaping up as the more contested race, featuring a five-way contest that includes DMK's Sukanya, AIADMK's K. Bhanumathi, Communist Party of India (CPI)'s P. Lakshmanan, and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK)'s Karthika.
In the earlier Assembly election this year, Dharapuram recorded a remarkable voter turnout of 88.84 per cent. Sathyabama won with 81,100 votes, defeating DMK's P. Indrani, who polled 64,373 votes, by a margin of 16,727 votes. TVK's own candidate S. Gowri Chitra finished third with 46,438 votes, representing 23.23 per cent of votes polled. NTK's P. Divya secured 6,026 votes.
Alliance Tensions and What to Watch
Chidambaram's public remarks highlight a quiet tension within the TVK-led alliance over candidate selection norms — a debate that has broader implications as the party consolidates its position ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Critics within allied parties argue that rewarding defectors over cadre sends a problematic signal about internal party culture. The bypoll results will be closely watched as an early referendum on TVK's governance credibility and electoral organisation beyond its film-star appeal.
Point of View
Which is still consolidating its identity beyond CM Vijay's celebrity, this is more than a candidate selection row — it is a test of whether the party can develop institutional depth. If the defector-candidates win comfortably, the criticism will be brushed aside; if they underperform relative to TVK's base vote, it could reinforce Chidambaram's point and embolden internal critics ahead of the 2026 state elections.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Karti Chidambaram opposing TVK's bypoll candidates?
Karti Chidambaram objects to TVK fielding candidates who contested and won earlier Assembly polls on AIADMK tickets before defecting to TVK in June 2026. He argues that long-standing TVK cadre should have been given the opportunity instead of accommodating political defectors.
Which constituencies are going to bypolls in Tamil Nadu?
The upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly bypolls are being held in Dharapuram in Tiruppur district and Madurantakam. Both seats fell vacant after the elected AIADMK legislators resigned and joined the ruling TVK.
Why do these bypolls matter for CM Vijay's government?
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam currently lacks an outright majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Winning both Dharapuram and Madurantakam would directly strengthen Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's legislative position.
Who are the candidates and rivals in the Dharapuram bypoll?
TVK has fielded P. Sathyabama in Dharapuram. She faces DMK's Sukanya, AIADMK's K. Bhanumathi, CPI's P. Lakshmanan, and NTK's Karthika in what is shaping up as a five-way contest.
What were the results in Dharapuram during the recent Assembly election?
In the Assembly election held earlier this year, P. Sathyabama won Dharapuram with 81,100 votes on an AIADMK ticket, defeating DMK's P. Indrani by a margin of 16,727 votes on a turnout of 88.84 per cent. TVK's own candidate S. Gowri Chitra finished third with 46,438 votes.
