Left parties, NTK lose deposits in Madurantakam, Dharapuram bypolls
Synopsis
In Tamil Nadu's Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls, 43 of 49 candidates — including the NTK and both Left parties — lost their deposits, shut out by a dominant three-way contest among TVK, DMK, and AIADMK. The results lay bare the shrinking electoral space for fringe and smaller parties in the state, with both Left nominees polling under 2,000 votes each.
Key Takeaways
43 of 49 candidates across Madurantakam and Dharapuram forfeited their election deposits in the October 2026 bypolls.
In Madurantakam , TVK's Maragatham Kumaravel led with 74,048 votes ; DMK's Paranthaman got 54,008 ; AIADMK's Kanitha Sampath polled 47,450 .
In Dharapuram , TVK's Sathyabama topped with 66,841 votes , ahead of DMK's Sukanya ( 57,370 ) and AIADMK's Bhanumathi ( 45,280 ).
NTK and Left candidates combined for just 4,695 votes in Madurantakam and 6,425 in Dharapuram — both well below deposit-saving thresholds.
Both CPI(M) and CPI nominees individually polled fewer than 2,000 votes across the two seats.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) forfeited their election deposits in both the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls held on 10 October 2026, finishing a distant fourth and fifth behind the three dominant parties. Altogether, 43 candidates across the two constituencies lost their deposits — underscoring the challenge fringe and smaller parties face in Tamil Nadu's increasingly three-cornered electoral contests.
Madurantakam: A Three-Party Sweep
Of the 27 candidates who contested in Madurantakam, only three retained their deposits. TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel led the field with 74,048 votes, followed by DMK nominee Paranthaman at 54,008 and AIADMK candidate Kanitha Sampath at 47,450. Together, the three principal parties accounted for 1,75,506 votes out of a total of 1,84,640 cast — leaving negligible room for anyone else.
NTK candidate Janakiraman managed only 2,709 votes, while CPI(M) nominee Sugandhi received 1,986 votes. Their combined tally of 4,695 was far short of the deposit-saving threshold. NOTA drew 652 votes, outpacing neither fringe candidate but highlighting a slice of voter dissatisfaction. The constituency's total electorate stood at 2,13,815.
Dharapuram: NTK Does Marginally Better, Still Falls Short
In Dharapuram, 19 of the 22 contestants forfeited deposits. TVK's Sathyabama topped the tally with 66,841 votes, ahead of DMK's Sukanya at 57,370 and AIADMK's Bhanumathi at 45,280. The three together polled 1,69,491 votes out of a total 1,79,214 cast from an electorate of 2,23,306.
NTK candidate Karthika secured 5,268 votes — a stronger showing than the party's Madurantakam performance — while CPI nominee Lakshmanan received just 1,157 votes. Their combined 6,425 votes still left both well behind the third-placed AIADMK. NOTA recorded 677 votes in this constituency.
What the Numbers Reveal
Notably, both Left candidates polled fewer than 2,000 votes individually — a marker that points to a near-complete collapse of organised Left support in these constituencies. The deposit threshold in Indian elections requires a candidate to secure at least one-sixth of the total valid votes polled; given the dominant three-party vote shares, that bar was impossible for smaller parties to clear.
This comes amid a broader pattern in Tamil Nadu politics where the electoral contest has tightened around the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and the newer entrant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) — the latter's strong first-place finish in Madurantakam signalling its rapid electoral consolidation. For the Left and the NTK, deposit losses in both seats are a measurable signal of the difficulty in converting organisational presence into votes.
Broader Electoral Context
The NTK, led by Seeman, has historically struggled to translate its vocal Tamil nationalist positioning into assembly-level wins, relying more on vote-spoiler impact than outright victories. The Left parties, once a significant force in parts of Tamil Nadu through trade union networks, have steadily ceded ground over two decades. These bypoll results reinforce both trends.
Whether the TVK's debut victories in these bypolls signal a durable three-pole equilibrium in Tamil Nadu — or a transitional moment before a larger realignment — will likely become clearer at the next general assembly election.
Point of View
A result that, if repeated at scale, would fundamentally redraw the state's political geometry. The real question these bypolls raise is not why fringe parties lost deposits, but whether Tamil Nadu is moving from a two-party alternation model to a genuine three-cornered fight — and what that means for pre-poll alliances ahead of 2026's assembly election cycle.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls?
In both the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls held on 10 October 2026, TVK, DMK, and AIADMK candidates dominated the results, with 43 of 49 contestants — including NTK and Left party nominees — losing their election deposits. The three principal parties together accounted for the vast majority of votes cast in both constituencies.
Why did so many candidates lose their deposits?
Under Indian election rules, a candidate must secure at least one-sixth of the total valid votes polled to retain their deposit. With TVK, DMK, and AIADMK collectively capturing over 95% of valid votes in both seats, the threshold was unreachable for smaller parties and independents.
How did the NTK perform in these bypolls?
NTK candidate Janakiraman polled 2,709 votes in Madurantakam, and NTK candidate Karthika secured 5,268 votes in Dharapuram — both well short of the deposit-saving threshold. The NTK's stronger Dharapuram showing still left it far behind the third-placed AIADMK candidate who polled 45,280 votes.
Which parties won in Madurantakam and Dharapuram?
TVK topped both constituencies — Maragatham Kumaravel won in Madurantakam with 74,048 votes and Sathyabama won in Dharapuram with 66,841 votes. DMK and AIADMK finished second and third respectively in both seats.
What do these results mean for Tamil Nadu politics?
The results reinforce that Tamil Nadu's assembly-level contests are increasingly dominated by three parties — TVK, DMK, and AIADMK — leaving little electoral oxygen for the Left or NTK. TVK's first-place finishes in both seats are a notable development ahead of the next full assembly election.
