CM Vijay, Palaniswami to Hit Bypoll Campaign Trail as AIADMK Star-Campaigner List Leaves Out Velumani, Thangamani, Shanmugam

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami are set to campaign in the two SC-reserved constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram ahead of the October 6 Assembly by-elections, with counting scheduled for October 9.

The by-elections were necessitated after the AIADMK legislators elected from the two seats in the 2026 Assembly polls, K. Maragatham Kumaravel of Madurantakam and P. Sathyabama of Dharapuram, resigned and joined the ruling TVK. Both have been fielded as TVK candidates in the seats they vacated, and the defection row has taken centre stage in the campaign.

Palaniswami is scheduled to campaign in Madurantakam on September 24, 25 and October 3, and in Dharapuram on September 27, 28 and October 2, as the AIADMK seeks to win back the seats with S. Kanitha Sampath in Madurantakam and K. Banumathi in Dharapuram.

The AIADMK has named 40 star campaigners for the bypolls, leaving out senior legislators S.P. Velumani, P. Thangamani and C.Ve. Shanmugam, who had cross-voted in favour of the TVK government during the May 13 floor test.

The omission has triggered speculation over continuing differences within the party between the camp led by Palaniswami and senior functionaries associated with Shanmugam and Velumani.