Initial trends in the Tamil Nadu assembly by-elections show a closely contested battle across two seats, Madurantakam and Dharapuram. In Madurantakam, TVK maintains an early lead over the DMK and AIADMK. Meanwhile, in Dharapuram, round two of counting shows AIADMK candidate Bhanumathi edging past TVK’s Sathyamama. The by-elections follow resignations of several AIADMK legislators who defected to the ruling TVK, which currently holds 106 to 107 seats and seeks an absolute majority in the state assembly to avoid dependence on coalition allies like Left parties, the VCK, and IUML. While five other assembly constituencies await pending Madras High Court directions, the current counting remains crucial for both the ruling establishment’s numbers and the opposition cadre’s standing across the state.
