DMK's Kanimozhi alleges ruling party 'stealing' candidates caused Tamil Nadu bye-election

DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi has alleged that byelections to the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu were necessitated by the "stealing of candidates" by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which had proclaimed itself a clean force. Campaigning for DMK candidate I. Paranthamen in Madurantakam on Wednesday, Kanimozhi said the TVK should have stopped after "appropriating" MLAs from DMK alliance parties, but instead "stolen people's representatives and caused a by-election."

Kanimozhi's remarks appeared to reference the resignation of AIADMK MLAs who later joined the TVK and are now contesting on its ticket. She criticized the defection of a previous candidate, telling voters: "You took pity on the candidate and voted for her in the election; but she defected to the ruling party; if you vote for the AIADMK again, there may be another by-election." She contrasted this with DMK's commitment, saying party president M.K. Stalin had fielded Paranthamen, who would remain with the party after election and not resort to defection.

Kanimozhi accused Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of unconventional campaigning practices and reiterated that DMK leaders had refused to defect even under "oppressive measures" and arrests, emphasizing the party's ideological commitment.