PMK to Neither Contest Nor Support Candidates in Two Tamil Nadu Bypolls

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday said the party will not support any political party or candidate in the upcoming bypolls to the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, Anbumani said the party had already decided not to field candidates in the two reserved constituencies, where polling is scheduled for October 6, 2026. He said the decision to maintain neutrality was taken after detailed consultations with PMK state executives and local office-bearers from the respective districts.

“Consequently, the party has resolved not to back any contestant or political entity in the upcoming elections,” the statement said.

PMK sources said the decision was finalised after consultations with senior state and district-level functionaries in Chennai. The party leadership decided to maintain an independent position instead of extending support to either the ruling side or the opposition alliance.

The bypolls have been necessitated by the resignation of former legislators Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, who had won the seats as AIADMK candidates in the April Assembly elections. The two legislators later left the AIADMK and joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The October 6 bypolls are expected to witness a multi-cornered contest involving major political parties, including TVK, DMK, AIADMK, CPI(M) and CPI.

The elections come months after the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, in which PMK secured four seats.

With PMK opting to stay neutral, the party will not campaign in favour of any of the contestants or formally align itself with any political formation in the two constituencies.

The decision assumes significance as parties prepare for the bypolls, with the outcome expected to draw attention amid the evolving political alignments in Tamil Nadu following the Assembly elections.