Ahead of the October 6 Madurantakam Assembly constituency by-election, AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami began campaigning on September 24 in support of the party’s candidate, Kanitha Sampath. He met and addressed voters in Mamandur and other parts of the constituency.

Maragatham Kumaravel, who won Madurantakam for the AIADMK in the 2026 Assembly election, later resigned her Assembly seat and joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Her resignation led to the by-election. She is now contesting the same constituency again as the TVK candidate, while the AIADMK has fielded Kanitha Sampath against her.

Addressing a campaign meeting, Palaniswami strongly criticized legislators elected on the AIADMK ticket who subsequently resigned and joined TVK. He alleged that the ruling party had drawn opposition legislators to its side to protect its government. These are political allegations made by Palaniswami and should be understood as his campaign position rather than as established facts.

He also said that Madurantakam voters had voted for the AIADMK’s two-leaves symbol in the 2026 Assembly election. He asked them to assess the former legislator’s decision to switch parties after the election when they vote in this by-election. He described the by-election as having been unnecessarily imposed on the public.

Palaniswami also criticized the performance of Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s TVK government. He raised allegations against the government concerning electricity supply, the rising price of essential goods, law and order, and the fulfillment of election promises.

Under the campaign schedule announced by the AIADMK, Palaniswami planned to campaign in Mamandur, Poothur, Devathur and Saravambakkam on September 24, and in L. Endathur, Ramapuram, Elappakkam and Orathi on September 26.

With the Madurantakam by-election set for October 6, the former AIADMK legislator’s candidacy for the ruling TVK has become a major issue in the constituency’s campaign. Both sides are focusing their campaigns on the party switch, the government’s performance and the voters’ verdict.