Vijay leads high-stakes Dharapuram roadshow amid bypoll fervor

State Minister Arun Raj touted the massive attendance as organic support, claiming the party anticipates a victory margin exceeding one lakh votes. This electoral showdown follows a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Vijay and DMK president MK Stalin. Vijay publicly condemned Stalin after the DMK leader allegedly made derogatory remarks regarding Sathyabama’s appearance, labeling the DMK a force of evil in a scathing post on X.

The Dharapuram seat, a Scheduled Caste-reserved constituency in Tiruppur district, became vacant after P. Sathyabama resigned from the AIADMK shortly after her 2026 election win to join the ruling TVK. With the bypoll set for October 6, the campaign has evolved into a pivotal struggle for the Chief Minister, who currently leads a government lacking an outright majority. Sathyabama faces a crowded field including Advocate S. Suganya for the DMK, K. Bhanumathi for the AIADMK, and candidates from the CPI and NTK.