TVK names 40 star campaigners for TN bypolls on 6 October
Synopsis
TVK has fielded Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and 39 other star campaigners for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls on 6 October — the same day the final candidate lists drop. With DMK, AIADMK, VCK, MDMK, and Congress all deploying senior names, these two reserved seats have become a prestige contest for Tamil Nadu's ruling alliance and its rivals alike.
Key Takeaways
TVK announced 40 star campaigners for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls.
Joseph Vijay leads the campaigners' list alongside alliance partners Manickam Tagore , Thol.
Thirumavalavan , Vaiko , and others.
The final candidate lists will be released on Saturday, 20 September after the withdrawal deadline passes.
In Madurantakam , 28 of 48 nomination papers were accepted; in Dharapuram , 22 papers were accepted.
Polling for both reserved constituencies is scheduled for 6 October .
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has announced a list of 40 star campaigners for the upcoming by-elections to the Madurantakam and Dharapuram reserved Assembly constituencies, with polling scheduled for 6 October. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay figures prominently among the campaigners named by the party, signalling the alliance's intent to contest the polls aggressively.
Key Star Campaigners Named
Alongside Chief Minister Vijay, the TVK's list includes several senior alliance leaders: Congress leader Manickam Tagore, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko, Durai Vaiko, and Kader Mohideen. The participation of these prominent alliance figures is expected to sharpen the political contest in both constituencies.
Final Candidate Lists to Be Released Saturday
Saturday, 20 September is the deadline for candidates to withdraw their nomination papers in both constituencies. Election authorities will publish the confirmed final lists and allot symbols to independent candidates and nominees of unrecognised parties only after the withdrawal process concludes. In Madurantakam, located in Chengalpattu district, 28 of the original 48 nomination papers were accepted after scrutiny. In Dharapuram, election authorities accepted 22 nomination papers following scrutiny.
Prominent Contestants in the Fray
Among the notable candidates already confirmed ahead of withdrawals, Madurantakam features Maragatham Kumaravel of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), Paranthaman of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Ganitha Sampath of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Sugandhi of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Janakiraman of the Naam Tamilar Katchi. The exact number of candidates remaining in the race across both seats will be confirmed once the withdrawal window closes.
Campaign Momentum and Election Preparations
Parties are gearing up with door-to-door outreach, street-corner meetings, and rallies featuring senior leaders over the remaining campaign period. Several candidates have already begun voter outreach and are mobilising local-level workers ahead of the final list publication. Election authorities, meanwhile, are preparing polling stations, deploying staff, and reviewing security arrangements to ensure smooth and transparent conduct of voting and counting across both constituencies.
The by-elections are being treated by parties as an important gauge of organisational strength and public support ahead of broader electoral contests in Tamil Nadu. Campaigns are expected to focus on local development concerns as well as state-level political issues in the run-up to polling day on 6 October.
Point of View
Which tend to carry strong ground-level organisation requirements, can be early-warning tests of caste arithmetic. The crowded field in Madurantakam — 28 candidates still in play before withdrawals — also hints at fragmented opposition, which could work in the alliance's favour even on a modest vote share. What matters beyond the result is whether the AIADMK, contesting without the DMK's combined weight, can demonstrate renewed relevance in a post-Jayalalithaa electoral cycle.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which parties have named star campaigners for the Tamil Nadu bypolls?
TVK has announced 40 star campaigners for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls, including Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Congress leader Manickam Tagore, VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan, and MDMK general secretary Vaiko, among others. Other parties including the DMK, AIADMK, and Naam Tamilar Katchi are also fielding candidates in both constituencies.
When is polling for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-elections?
Polling for both the Madurantakam and Dharapuram reserved Assembly constituencies is scheduled for 6 October. The final candidate lists will be released on Saturday, 20 September, after the nomination withdrawal deadline passes.
How many candidates are contesting the Madurantakam bypoll?
Of the 48 nomination papers submitted in Madurantakam, 28 were accepted after scrutiny. The confirmed final number of contestants will be known only after the withdrawal deadline on Saturday, 20 September.
Who are the key candidates in the Madurantakam bypoll?
Prominent candidates in Madurantakam include Maragatham Kumaravel of the TMC, Paranthaman of the DMK, Ganitha Sampath of the AIADMK, Sugandhi of the CPI(M), and Janakiraman of the Naam Tamilar Katchi. The final list will be confirmed after the withdrawal process concludes.
Why are these bypolls politically significant?
The Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls are being treated by all major parties as a test of organisational strength and voter support ahead of larger electoral battles in Tamil Nadu. The deployment of senior alliance leaders as star campaigners reflects the high stakes each party has attached to these two reserved seats.
