Tamil Nadu bypolls: Two SC-reserved seats share a history of firsts
Madurantakam and Dharapuram, both SC-reserved, face their first bypolls. AIADMK cites past victories as it eyes both seats.
The upcoming by-elections in Tamil Nadu will see two constituencies — Madurantakam and Dharapuram — go to the polls for the first time in their history, and the two seats share more than just that distinction.
Both constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes. In the previous elections held in these areas, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) emerged victorious with women candidates. Party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami expressed confidence on Tuesday that the party would retain both seats, citing its strong track record in these regions.
Interestingly, each constituency has previously fallen vacant without triggering a by-election. In both instances, the timing was too close to the general elections for a separate poll to be conducted.
The first such case dates back to September 1966, when B. Parameswaran, a former minister and grandson of social reformer Rettamalai Srinivasan, passed away. Parameswaran, who also served as Mayor of Chennai, represented Madurantakam in the third Assembly (1962-67). His death came just five months before the state went to general elections.
More recently, V. Sivakami of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), elected from Dharapuram in 2001, resigned her seat in January 2006 after turning into a dissident legislator. The resignation came a mere four months ahead of the Assembly polls, again leaving no room for an interim by-election.