Campaigning for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly by-elections ended at 6 pm on October 4. PTI and IANS independently reported the completed closure after the final day of rallies and roadshows. The two Tamil Nadu constituencies are now between campaigning and the October 6 vote; polling has not yet taken place.
The Election Commission’s September 7 schedule identifies both constituencies as Scheduled Caste-reserved seats and records the resignations of Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama as the reasons for the vacancies. It sets October 9 for counting. These dates were announced earlier and remain the framework for the current campaign closure.
The contests bring together the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, the DMK, the AIADMK, the Naam Tamilar Katchi and the Left parties. Kumaravel and Sathyabama, who left the AIADMK for TVK, are contesting again for their new party. CPI and CPI(M) have entered one constituency each despite supporting the state government from outside.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay completed his final-day outreach with a roadshow in Dharapuram for Sathyabama. Opposition leaders also made closing appeals during the final campaign phase. News Today reports 27 candidates in Madurantakam and 22 in Dharapuram. Those totals describe the field, not a forecast of how votes will be divided.
The Commission’s original notice provides for electronic voting machines and VVPAT at every polling station. Voters may use their electoral photo identity card or one of the other specified documents, including a passport or driving licence. The next substantive milestones are polling and counting under the existing timetable.