Dharapuram bypoll: candidates file nominations on final day

TVK candidate P. Sathyabama, who won the Dharapuram Assembly constituency on an AIADMK ticket in the 2026 Assembly election and who subsequently resigned as MLA before joining the TVK, filed her nomination papers on Wednesday (September 16), the last day for filing nominations for the October 6 by-election.

Ms. Sathyabama was accompanied by TVK general secretary and Minister for Water Resources and Rural Development N. Anand, and Ministers K.G. Arunraj, K.A. Sengottaiyan, M. Vijay Balaji, S. Kamali and D. Logesh Tamilselvan. Members of the alliance parties also accompanied her.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Sathyabama said she resigned as an AIADMK MLA because of the then proposed alliance between the AIADMK and the DMK, and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s alleged plan to become Chief Minister with the DMK’s support. She said this was contrary to the people’s mandate in favour of the TVK.