Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has announced its candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly by-elections scheduled for October 6, fielding K Maragatham Kumaravel from Madurantakam and P Sathyabama from Dharapuram.
The bypolls will mark the first electoral test for the three-month-old Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government.
The Election Commission of India announced the bypolls following the resignation of Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, who were AIADMK legislators before joining the TVK on the day they tendered their resignation letters to Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar.
The contests in Madurantakam and Dharapuram come as the TVK government navigates coalition pressures and legislative challenges. The party currently holds 107 seats in the 234-member Assembly and relies on external support to remain ahead of the 118-seat simple majority mark.
The TVK formed the government as a post-poll coalition after falling short of a simple majority, with support from the Congress, VCK, IUML and Left parties. Cross-voting by 22 AIADMK rebel legislators helped the Vijay government secure 144 "ayes" in the floor test.
For the AIADMK, the contests are significant as it seeks to reclaim the seats lost following the legislators' defections, while the DMK may seek to capitalise on vulnerabilities facing the TVK government.
Securing both seats would be important for the TVK to consolidate its legislative strength amid coalition pressures.
As per the ECI schedule, nominations can be filed from September 9 to 16, with scrutiny on September 17 and the last date for withdrawal on September 19. Polling will take place on October 6 and counting will be held on October 9.
The notification has also brought the Model Code of Conduct into effect in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies.
