‘Stealing’ of candidates by ‘clean’ force caused byelections, alleges Kanimozhi

DMK parliamentary party leader K. Kanimozhi on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, alleged that byelections in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies were triggered by the “stealing of candidates” by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a party she said had projected itself as a “clean force.”

On the campaign trail in Madurantakam

Canvassing for DMK nominee I. Paranthamen in Madurantakam, Kanimozhi accused the ruling TVK of engineering defections and forcing voters back to the polls. “By its actions, the ‘clean’ force has become a ‘stealing’ force,” she said, drawing a sharp contrast between the TVK’s self-image and what she described as its political conduct.

Allegations of poaching and the bypoll trigger

Kanimozhi contended that the TVK had already gone “far enough” by forming a government after “appropriating” MLAs from parties within the DMK-led alliance, and alleged that it had then gone on to “steal” people’s representatives, resulting in the current byelections. Her remarks appeared to refer to the resignation of AIADMK MLAs who subsequently joined the TVK and are now contesting on its ticket.

Warning voters in Madurantakam about the risks of repeated defections, she said: “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 added that even “oppressive measures” and arrests had not made DMK leaders switch sides.

DMK’s pitch: stability and Dravidian ideology

Positioning the DMK’s candidate as a bulwark against defections, Kanimozhi said party president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had fielded Paranthamen to ensure that voters were represented by someone who would “fight for and defend the Dravidian ideology” and “remain with the party after his election.” The appeal underscored the DMK’s message of stability and ideological consistency as the campaign intensified in both Madurantakam and Dharapuram.

Attacks on the Chief Minister’s campaign tactics

Kanimozhi also targeted Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, saying she preferred to address him as “sweet bro,” and accused him of campaigning among children and asking them to persuade their parents to vote for him. “There is a case against him for instigating children to persuade their parents to vote for him,” she alleged.

She further claimed that the Chief Minister sought to cover up the death of a girl in Vandalur because it could negatively affect his campaign in Madurantakam. In addition, she alleged that another girl had been sexually assaulted and that the Chief Minister had not spoken about the incident. “But our leader Stalin spoke to the parents of the girl and promised all help,” she said.

Law and order claims under TVK rule

Kanimozhi cited the National Crime Records Bureau’s description of Tamil Nadu as a safe State for women, but claimed the situation had deteriorated since the TVK took office. According to her, in the four months since the party came to power, the State had witnessed 500 crimes, including 300 sexual assaults against women and children, 200 murders, eight custodial deaths, and 10 honour killings. She framed these figures as evidence of a broader decline in law and order under the TVK government.

Significance for the byelections

The DMK leader’s remarks sharpened the contours of the campaign in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, with the opposition party placing defections, political ethics, and women’s safety at the centre of its critique of the ruling TVK. As canvassing continues, the byelections have become a focal point for competing claims about governance, stability, and accountability in Tamil Nadu.