CHENNAI: Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced byelections on Oct 6 for Dharapuram (SC) and Madurantakam (SC) — two of the seven vacant assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Counting of votes will be held on Oct 9. ECI has also announced bypolls for Thattanchavadi assembly segment in Puducherry on Oct 6.The bypolls come more than three months after the resignation of Maragatham Kumaravel from Madurantakam and P Sathyabama from Dharapuram on May 25. The two were part of 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs who backed the TVK govt during the motion of confidence on May 13. The two eventually joined TVK. Four other AIADMK MLAs too quit their posts and joined AIADMK over the next few days.The two constituencies are among seven assembly seats that are at present vacant, including Trichy East, which was vacated by chief minister C Joseph Vijay. Bypolls have not been announced for Trichy East, Ambasamudram, Viralimalai, Perundurai and Karur as election-related cases are pending before courts. The restraint on conducting bypolls in these five constituencies were extended until Sept 8.The bypolls assume significance as they are expected to be a litmus test for the performance of the nearly four-month-old TVK govt. A victory in the bypolls would also mean two more MLAs for the ruling party which is short of a majority on its own in the assembly.While DMK would throw a tough challenge, AIADMK too is likely to fight hard to reclaim the two seats it had won in the assembly election. Now, all eyes would be on the candidate selection by Vijay. It is unclear whether he would field former AIADMK functionaries Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama or spring a surprise by announcing fresh names.In Puducherry, the bypolls were because CM Rangasamy who contested in two segments and won both, chose to resign Thattachavady. The notification has also brought the Model Code of Conduct into force in these segments. According to the EC schedule, filing of nominations will begin on Sept 9 and end on Sept 16. The nomination papers will be scrutinised on Sept 17, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until Sept 19.
