Dharapuram

TVK has won both Dharapuram and Madurantakam assembly seats in the Tamil Nadu by-elections, a major setback for AIADMK which slipped to third place in Dharapuram.

This result points to a clear shift in Tamil Nadu politics. AIADMK, once the biggest force in the state, is losing its hold on the ground. The party could not keep seats it had won before.

What the main parties did

DMK ran its campaign around anti-incumbency, but it did not work. After losing, the party accused the Election Commission of manipulating voter lists. An independent candidate in Madurantakam also said that electronic voting machines malfunctioned during counting.

These by-poll results show that political dynamics in the state are shifting ahead of bigger elections.

Tamil Nadu is waiting for bypoll results in Dharapuram and Madurantakam. The sitting AIADMK MLAs from both seats left the party and are now contesting again on TVK's ticket.

It is a three-way fight between TVK, AIADMK, which wants to win back these seats, and DMK, now in the Opposition.

Turnout and Puducherry Results

Both constituencies saw voter turnout go past 80%. The big question is whether TVK can repeat its strong May show. Results are also due from Puducherry's Thattanchavady, which was vacated by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy.

Vote counting for assembly by-elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal starts today.

Tamil Nadu and West Bengal By-Polls

In Tamil Nadu, the by-polls in Madhuranthakam and Dharapuram are being watched closely. This is after former AIADMK legislators shifted to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Madhuranthakam saw 86.26 percent voter turnout, down nearly seven percent from the previous assembly elections. Dharapuram recorded 80.30 percent, down roughly 9.5 percent. DMK and AIADMK are in a big fight to regain ground here.

In West Bengal, Nandigram and Reginanagar have a three-cornered contest. Party factions have split and there are sharp allegations. Postal ballots will be counted first, then electronic voting machines at set centres. These results will say a lot about regional political standings and how voter mood is shifting across both states.

Counting for the 2026 by-elections is set for Friday, October 9, 2026. Voting already happened on October 6 across five Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry and Assam.

Constituencies going to count:

• Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu
• Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal
• Thattanchavady in Puducherry
• Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam

Counting timeline on October 9: Postal ballot counting starts at 8:00 AM IST. EVM counting follows at 8:30 AM IST. Early trends will show up in the morning rounds. Clearer leads should come by late morning and afternoon. Final results will be declared through the day.

Voter turnout was high across the board. Madurantakam recorded 83.86 percent, Dharapuram 78.53 percent, and Thattanchavady about 78.83 percent. Nandigram and Rejinagar both crossed roughly 78 percent. Nagaon saw around 76 percent participation.

Several seats fell vacant after MLAs switched parties. In Tamil Nadu, the Madurantakam and Dharapuram AIADMK MLAs left to join TVK. These results are a first test for the new government. Nagaon is a tight contest between BJP, Congress and AIUDF.

What voters should know

A quick note for voters: Early leads can shift with each counting round. Exit polls are not official results. Trust only Election Commission of India for official data. The result is final only when Returning Officer declares it.

Check official live results on the ECI Results Portal

The full election process is expected to finish by October 11, 2026.

Lost your voter ID card before polling day? Don't worry about it. You can still vote without your physical card. The only thing that matters is that your name is on the official voter list for your constituency.

Polling is set for October 6, 2026 across five Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat. Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry are going to polls. Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam will also vote. Votes will be counted on October 9.

Once polling officers find your name on the list, they will check your identity using other government-approved documents. A missing card alone does not stop you from voting.

Other ID Documents You Can Use

The Election Commission allows several other ID proofs for voters without their cards. These documents must have your photo and must be issued by an authorised authority. Accepted documents include:

• Aadhaar Card
• Passport
• Driving License
• PAN Card
• MNREGA Job Card
• Bank or Post Office passbook with a photograph
• Pension documents with a photograph
• Service identity cards issued by central or state government departments or public sector units
• Health insurance smart card issued by the Ministry of Labour
• Smart card issued under the National Population Register (NPR)
• Identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs, or MLCs
• Digital voter ID (e-EPIC) downloaded online

You must carry the original document to the polling station. Officials usually do not accept photocopies or phone screenshots of ID cards for verification.

Check Your Name on the Voter List

Before polling day, check that your name is on the voter list. If your name is not there, you cannot vote even with a valid ID document. You can check your details online on the Election Commission website or at your local election office. Doing this early saves you from last-minute problems at the polling station.

EVMs and Model Code of Conduct

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPAT units will be used at polling stations. The Election Commission says enough EVMs and VVPAT units have been arranged. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is now active in all five regions after the election schedule was announced. The MCC sets strict rules for political parties, candidates, and government authorities during the election period.

Disclaimer: This article provides general election information; voters should verify the latest polling rules and approved documents with the Election Commission.

Police in Tiruppur have filed a case against DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for using a minor in an election campaign. The FIR was filed by Dharapuram Town Police under Section 123(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Section 83 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The incident in Dharapuram

The incident happened on Saturday during a campaign rally near the Periyar statue in Dharapuram town. Udhayanidhi brought a minor boy onto a campaign van. He then handed the boy a microphone. The boy reportedly said disrespectful things about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Election rules

Officials say using a child in campaign work breaks Election Commission rules. Those rules do not allow children to take part in election events. Udhayanidhi was in town asking for votes for DMK candidate S Suganya. The Dharapuram by-election was set for October 6. Polling was Dharapuram by-election. Campaigning came to an end on Sunday.

The investigation is still going on. DMK has not put out a statement about the charges yet.