Madurantakam bypoll was forced, says Palaniswami as AIADMK campaigns
AIADMK's Edappadi K. Palaniswami says the Madurantakam bypoll was forced after the sitting MLA was bought through horse trading and later joined TVK.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has described the bypoll for the Madurantakam Assembly constituency as "forced", alleging that the MLA elected from the seat earlier was "bought in horse trading". He was speaking on Thursday while campaigning for the AIADMK candidate in the constituency.
Addressing the charge at the rival camp, Mr. Palaniswami said the TVK functionaries had made the AIADMK MLA resign "on the advice" of TVK founder C. Joseph Vijay in order to "save their government". The MLA has since joined the TVK and has now been fielded by that party for the bypoll, he said.
"It is a matter of shame. If you are man enough or have the courage, you should take it head-on," Mr. Palaniswami said, directing his criticism at the TVK candidate.
He recalled that the candidate had earlier been given the opportunity to contest as an AIADMK candidate during the 2026 Assembly polls, with the aim of serving the people of the constituency. The electorate in Madurantakam, he said, had wanted the AIADMK to win and had voted for its candidate in the previous Assembly polls, making her victorious.
The AIADMK leader accused the TVK candidate of lacking any sense of gratitude and of having disrespected the voters of Madurantakam. Her victory in the Assembly election, he said, came about because of the hard work of AIADMK functionaries and those of its allies.