Vijay credits TVK's bypoll win to DMK's alleged remarks against women, AIADMK's 'betrayal'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder C Joseph Vijay on Friday attributed his party's victories in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls to what he called the DMK's "defamatory speech aimed at women" and the "betrayal" of AIADMK leaders M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.

Congratulating TVK nominees Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, Vijay said the results reflected voters' response to the two issues.

The Election Commission declared Sathyabama the winner in Dharapuram, where she defeated her nearest DMK rival, S Suganya, by 9,471 votes. The official declaration for Madurantakam was still awaited, though Kumaravel appeared headed for a decisive victory.

Vijay's remarks appeared to target DMK president M K Stalin over allegations that he body-shamed Sathyabama during campaigning for the bypolls.

Without naming AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, the TVK founder also attributed his party's performance to the "betrayal of blemishless leaders and their followers", referring to the late MGR and Jayalalithaa, the iconic figures associated with the AIADMK.

During the bypoll campaign, Vijay had accused the AIADMK under Palaniswami of attempting to join hands with the DMK, its long-time rival, to form the government after the April 2026 Assembly elections.

He had described the alleged move as a betrayal of MGR and Jayalalithaa.