Madurantakam and Dharapuram were among the six seats vacated by persons elected to the Assembly in the general elections on AIADMK tickets – others being Perundurai, Karur, Viralimalai and Ambasamudram seats – and the candidates switching loyalties to join the ruling TVK.
Chennai: By-elections to two Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu – Madurantakam (SC) and Dharapuram (SC) - and the Thattanchavady seat in Puducherry that fell vacant after the resignations of sitting members would be held on October 6, Tuesday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Monday.
Madurantakam and Dharapuram were among the six seats vacated by persons elected to the Assembly in the general elections on AIADMK tickets – others being Perundurai, Karur, Viralimalai and Ambasamudram seats – and the candidates switching loyalties to join the ruling TVK.
Those six seats have been lying vacant for a long time, along with Trichy East that was vacated by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay who was elected from two constituencies. Vijay retained Perumbur in Chennai and gave up Trichy East.
Now the ECI had decided to conduct the elections to just two of the two constituencies on October 6. Maragatham Kumaravel, former AIADMK leader who is popular in the constituency is likely to be nominated by the TVK, while the AIADMK will field its candidate.
Similarly, P Sathyabhama, who vacated Dharapuram, is likely to contest again in a TVK ticket, while the Thattanchavady seat In Puducherry, which was vacated by the Union Territory’s Chief Minister N Rangasamy, will see a NR Congress candidate as the forerunner.
Though the by-elections are inconsequential to the political stability of both the Vijay-led TVK government and the NR Congress government, they could be seen as important yardsticks to assess the performance of both the governments.
Also Maragatham Kumaravel or Sathyabhama could aspire for a ministerial berth in the TVK government, though senior leaders like former AIADMK ministers C Vijayabaskar (Viralimalai constituency) and M R Vijaybakar (Karur) were waiting in the wings for the conduct of the by elections to their traditional constituencies and joining the Cabinet.
Another former AIADMK MLA, Isaki Subbiah, after a long wait for the by-elections wanted to withdraw his resignation and become MLA of Ambasamudram recently, only to be told that it was not possible. He will also not be able to face the by-election on October 6.
