TVK Chief Vijay to Campaign for Bypolls, Face Opposition Over AIADMK Defections

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief C Joseph Vijay is set to launch his campaign on Friday at Maduranthakam near Chennai for the October 6 Assembly bypolls, with the ruling party preparing to take on the Opposition over a series of contentious issues.

Bypolls will be held in Maduranthakam in Chengelpet district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district after AIADMK legislators Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama resigned from the Assembly and joined the ruling TVK. The two former AIADMK MLAs have been renominated by the TVK from the constituencies they won in the April Assembly election.

Vijay's campaign comes amid Opposition criticism of the government's proposal to construct a new Secretariat-Assembly complex near Marina Beach and complaints over continuing power cuts in several parts of the state. The DMK, AIADMK and NTK have fielded candidates in the bypolls. The Left parties, which extend outside support to the TVK government, are contesting separately rather than joining the ruling party-led alliance. The PMK has also not extended support to any party.

The Opposition has made the resignation of the two AIADMK legislators a key campaign issue, alleging that the bypolls were triggered after the MLAs were “lured” into joining the TVK. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami has already begun campaigning, seeking what he described as “justice” over the defections.

Vijay is expected to respond to the Opposition's criticism during his first public outreach for the bypolls. The ruling party is also expected to highlight its welfare measures, including the expanded free-bus ride scheme for women and the provision of gold rings for newborns.

The campaign address is scheduled for around 3 PM. The TVK has said only people carrying QR-code event passes will be permitted entry and advised elderly persons and pregnant women to avoid gathering near the venue.

These are the first bypolls faced by the TVK government since it assumed office in May 2026. The Madras High Court on September 24 dismissed a petition seeking, among other reliefs, a direction to the Election Commission not to accept the nomination papers of Sathyabama and Maragatham Kumaravel.