Tamil Nadu bypolls put Vijay’s young government to an early test as voting picks up

Voting in Tamil Nadu's two Assembly by-elections on Tuesday showed brisk participation, with Madurantakam recording 35.55 per cent turnout and Dharapuram reporting 37.28 per cent. Both seats were previously won by AIADMK candidates who later resigned and joined Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). In neighbouring Puducherry, Thattanchavady held a by-election after Chief Minister N Rangasamy vacated the constituency.

Turnout there was 19.2 per cent by 9 am. TVK won 108 seats in April but needed support from smaller parties to form a government, as they fell short of an outright majority. The campaign has been intense, with Vijay personally canvassing for four days in the two constituencies, a rare display from a Chief Minister who was comparatively low-key in the April statewide campaign.

Some voters attributed the higher-than-expected turnout in Madurantakam to many women visiting temples to pray for a TVK victory. The gender composition of voters in both constituencies favored women, with Madurantakam having 108,797 women and 104,926 men among its 213,788 voters and Dharapuram having 116,013 women and 107,285 men among 223,306 electors.