Vijay casts TVK bypoll showing as verdict on political conduct

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay said the party’s performance in Madurantakam and Dharapuram reflected voters’ support for what he called political decorum, while counting updates still showed a lead in Madurantakam.

In a statement on X on Friday, October 9, 2026, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president thanked voters after the party’s candidates Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama made strong showings in the two Assembly bypolls. The Hindu reported that Kumaravel held a comfortable lead in Madurantakam at 5:45 p.m. local time. Vijay described the results as a victory for the public and for political decorum, saying Tamil Nadu remained a stronghold of people’s power rather than corrupt forces.

Vijay said the TVK had campaigned without paying voters or offering inducements. He rejected allegations of political deals and said voters had answered those who mocked his two-day campaign in each constituency. These were claims in his statement, rather than independently established findings.

The chief minister also argued that the outcome of the April Assembly election might have been different if the DMK government had allowed him to campaign across the state. He thanked voters, alliance partners and party workers. Vijay described the result as a response to derogatory remarks about women, personal attacks and what he called the betrayal of leaders and their supporters.