Edappadi Palaniswami Accuses Vijay of Poaching AIADMK Legislator

Former AIADMK MLA V Sathyabama’s sudden resignation and subsequent bid for re-election under the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam banner has ignited a sharp confrontation in Dharapuram. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is accusing the actor-turned-politician Vijay of orchestrating a calculated theft of his party's elected mandate.

Editorial·October 2, 2026·reads: 215

Edappadi Palaniswami Accuses Vijay of Poaching AIADMK Legislator

Palaniswami leveled these charges during a campaign rally for AIADMK candidate K Bhanumathi, questioning the political ethics behind Sathyabama’s shift. The AIADMK leader argued that voters supported Sathyabama specifically for the party's two-leaf symbol, characterizing her defection as a betrayal of the public trust. He claimed the TVK is attempting to consolidate power by absorbing established representatives rather than building a platform of its own.

The friction stems from a series of resignations that occurred in May, when Sathyabama, Maragatham Kumaravel, and Jayakumar stepped down and joined the ruling TVK. With the Dharapuram bypoll scheduled for October 6, the race has become a direct proxy battle between the two parties. Palaniswami maintains that his party will reclaim the constituency, dismissing the TVK's strategy as a shortcut to political legitimacy. Votes are set to be counted on October 9.