Vijay Credits TVK Bypoll Win to DMK’s ‘Slander’, Stalin Calls It ‘Interim Victory for Betrayal’

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday attributed the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) victories in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls to public rejection of the DMK’s alleged defamatory remarks against women, while DMK president M K Stalin termed the outcome an “interim victory for betrayal”.

TVK candidates Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama won the two constituencies in the October 6 bypolls. Kumaravel defeated DMK candidate I Paranthaman in Madurantakam by 20,004 votes, while Sathyabama defeated S Suganya in Dharapuram by 9,471 votes.

In a statement, Vijay took an apparent dig at Stalin over remarks allegedly targeting Sathyabama’s appearance during the campaign. He also accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami of betraying the party’s late leaders M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.

Vijay had alleged during campaigning that the AIADMK attempted to align with the DMK to form the government following the April Assembly elections.

Stalin, meanwhile, criticised the bypolls, held after two sitting MLAs vacated their seats and joined the TVK shortly after the Assembly elections. Calling the move a “blatant murder of democracy”, he said the decline of politics built on false images had begun.

Palaniswami accused the ruling party of misusing government machinery and violating election regulations to secure victory, alleging that TVK resorted to questionable campaign tactics. TVK leaders attributed the results to the government’s welfare measures and Vijay’s leadership. Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan said the victory reflected public support for the administration.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief Manickam Tagore also praised the outcome, claiming the elections were conducted without widespread distribution of cash, food or gifts to voters. He said the results reflected public trust in Vijay’s governance and alleged that the DMK had lost ground.

Tagore further criticised the AIADMK, claiming its political identity had been weakened by central influence.