Vijay Sathyendran, the chief of the newly‑formed Tamil Maanila Kootam (TVK), accused DMK leader M. K. Stalin and AIADMK chief E. Palaniswami of a secret understanding that would let the DMK contest Madurantakam and the AIADMK Dharapuram in the upcoming Oct 6 bypolls. He made the claim while campaigning for TVK candidate P. Sathyabama in Dharapuram, noting that the former AIADMK MLA had resigned from his seat and joined the TVK after the 2024 assembly election.
The allegations were prompted by the resignations of K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama, who both joined TVK after winning their seats in the April assembly polls. The switch left the two seats vacant, setting the stage for the first electoral test of the TVK government. Vijay said the DMK and AIADMK had quietly agreed to let the parties contest the seats where they had previously secured victories, a strategy that could keep the TVK from losing ground.
The DMK and AIADMK have publicly denied any such pact. DMK spokesperson and former MP T. K. S. Elangovan branded Vijay’s claim as “third‑rate” and insisted the parties announced their candidates independently. AIADMK chief E. Palaniswami also refuted the allegation, calling the claim baseless and accusing TVK of horse‑trading. Both parties framed the dispute as a smear campaign rather than a real political realignment.
Vijay invoked the legacy of M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, arguing that a partnership with the DMK would betray the historic rivalry that defined Tamil Nadu politics. He urged voters in Dharapuram not to back the DMK or AIADMK, claiming both parties had “betrayed the legacy of MGR and Jayalalithaa.” The statement echoed a long‑running narrative that any alliance between the two Dravidian giants would be unacceptable to their traditional bases.
The bypolls will decide whether the TVK can maintain its slender majority. With the two seats now contested, the result could either cement the TVK’s position or force it to seek alliances to reach the 50% threshold needed to form a stable government. The parties are bracing for a heated contest, with protests already erupting over P. Sathyabama’s resignation and the alleged deal.
Both the DMK and AIADMK will vote on their candidate lists by September 30, ahead of the Oct 6 poll. The outcome will either confirm a tacit pact or expose a political standoff that could reshape Tamil Nadu’s power structure for the next assembly term. The state’s electorate is poised to decide if the historic rivalry will survive another twist of alliance politics.