Chennai, 10 September (H.S.):The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam named former AIADMK legislators K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama as its candidates for the October 6 Assembly byelections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram.

Both candidates are seeking a return to the Assembly from the constituencies they represented before resigning as MLAs on May 25 and joining the TVK. Their resignations created the vacancies in the two reserved constituencies. Counting will be held on October 9.

Maragatham Kumaravel, a former Madurantakam MLA, is now a deputy general secretary of the TVK. Sathyabama, who previously represented Dharapuram, serves as the party’s Tiruppur South-East district secretary. Their nomination had been widely expected following indications that the party would give them another opportunity to contest.

TVK president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay called on party functionaries and cadres to work in unity to secure victories in both seats. He said the two candidates would contest as nominees of the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance.

The announcement sets up multi-cornered contests involving Tamil Nadu’s principal political formations. The DMK has fielded I. Paranthaman in Madurantakam and S. Suganya in Dharapuram. The AIADMK is preparing to reclaim the seats and has sought support from alliance partners, including the BJP.

For the TVK, the byelections will be its first electoral test after forming the government. By choosing the former AIADMK legislators, the party is relying on their electoral experience, networks and familiarity with the constituencies.

The AIADMK is expected to present the polls as an opportunity to recover its former strongholds, while the DMK will attempt to benefit from the divided contest. Local issues, alliance strength and the candidates’ influence are likely to shape the campaign.

The results will also provide an early measure of public sentiment towards the Vijay government and Tamil Nadu’s changing political alignments.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman