Madurantakam

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.

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.

Voting is happening in six by-elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Assam. Polling started at 8 am today. Results come out on October 9.

This is a key test for the ruling alliances. These seats became vacant after winners in some constituencies picked one seat and resigned from the other.

Seats and parties in the race

West Bengal: Nandigram and Rejinagar seats are open. The Election Commission has frozen the TMC party name and election symbol after the party split into two groups. BJP is pushing hard here, especially in Nandigram, where they nominated Hasirani Rath. Mamata Banerjee's TMC faction has backed Congress candidate Milan Pradhan. CPI and a rival TMC group are also contesting.

Tamil Nadu: Madurantakam and Dharapuram have four-way fights between TVK, DMK, AIADMK and CPI. Former AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama are contesting on TVK tickets. With 27 and 30 candidates respectively, vote splitting could matter a lot here.

Puducherry and Assam: Thattanchavady in Puducherry and the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam will also see voting today. Both are seen as tests of how strong the ruling alliances are locally.

Polling for the Madurantakam Assembly by-poll in Tamil Nadu is today, 6 October 2026. Booths open at 7 am and close at 6 pm. Counting follows on 9 October.

Small constituency, big stakes. Madurantakam is the 35th Assembly seat. It is a Scheduled Caste reserved constituency in Chengalpattu district, under the Kancheepuram Lok Sabha seat. The seat has 2,12,639 registered electors, 1,04,496 men and 1,08,078 women, across 268 polling stations. That works out to roughly 793 voters per booth.

The contest is a straight test for TVK chief C. Joseph Vijay. Former AIADMK MLA K. Maragatham Kumaravel resigned. She crossed over to TVK and is now seeking a fresh mandate from the same seat.

Twenty-seven candidates are contesting. Here are the main ones:

• DMK: I. Paranthamen
• AIADMK: Kanitha Sampath
• NTK: K. Janaki Raman
• CPI(M): Also in the race

Why does one seat matter? TVK won 108 of Tamil Nadu's 234 seats in 2026. It needs 118 for a simple majority. A win here would not save the government. But it would certainly shape the narrative. AIADMK, meanwhile, wants its old base back after the defection.

Before you go to vote

Find your polling booth before you leave home. I always tell voters to verify first, especially if you shifted house or voted elsewhere last time.

Go to the ECI Voters' Services Portal and pick 'Search Your Name in the Voter List'. Enter your EPIC number or personal details, then submit, and your polling station address will appear along with Booth Level Officer details.

No internet? Dial the Voter Helpline on 1950 or use the Voter Helpline App.

Carry the right ID. EPIC or Voter ID is the standard. But these are also accepted:

• Aadhaar
• Passport
• Driving licence
• PAN card
• MGNREGA job card
• Bank or post office passbook with photo
• Pension document
• Health insurance smart card
• Service ID
• NPR smart card
• UDID card

A voter information slip alone will not get you in. And remember, your name must be on the electoral roll.

Madurantakam has a strong turnout record. It was about 93.36% in the 2026 Assembly election. Campaigning ended 48 hours before polling. For official results, stick to the Election Commission of India rather than unofficial live trackers.

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.