Tamil Nadu byelections: why are only two constituencies going to polls instead of seven?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had notified byelections to only two constituencies – Dharapuram and Madurantakam – in Tamil Nadu, even as five other constituencies remain vacant.

C. Vijayabaskar (Viralimalai), M.R. Vijayabhaskar (Karur), Esakki Subaya (Ambasamudram), P. Sathyabama (Dharapuram), K. Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam) and S. Jayakumar (Perundurai) had won the Assembly elections this year as AIADMK candidates. They, however, resigned as MLAs shortly thereafter, before joining the ruling TVK. Apart from these constituencies, Tiruchirappalli (East) was vacated by TVK chief and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who had won from Perambur Assembly seat as well.

Byelections are being held only in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, where K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama, respectively, had been elected as AIADMK MLAs before resigning from the party and subsequently joining the TVK. The ruling party has fielded them as its candidates for the bypolls from the respective constituencies.