Madurantakam and Dharapuram, going to byelections next month, have more than one common feature

The Election Commission has scheduled by‑polls for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly seats next month, marking the first such contests in these constituencies since they were designated for Scheduled Castes. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) fielded women nominees in both seats, and party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami publicly stated his belief that the party will win the contests.

Both constituencies share a history of vacancies that did not trigger by‑elections due to timing constraints. In September 1966, former minister B. Parameswaran, the grandson of Rettamalai Srinivasan and ex‑Mayor of Chennai, died while serving as Madurantakam’s MLA; a general election was called five months later, precluding a by‑poll. Similarly, V. Sivakami of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), elected from Dharapuram in 2001, resigned in January 2006, four months before the scheduled assembly poll, and no by‑election was held.

The upcoming polls are significant for the SC‑reserved seats, as they will determine representation for communities that have historically relied on these constituencies for political voice. Local voters and party workers are closely watching the AIADMK’s campaign, which aims to retain the seats it previously won, while opposition parties assess their prospects in a region that has seen limited electoral turnover due to past timing issues.