The AIADMK's decision to field candidates in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly byelections has turned the contests into an early test of whether the party can arrest its steep decline in Scheduled Caste-reserved constituencies. With its tally in SC seats falling from 32 in 2016 to just eight in 2026, the opposition party faces pointed criticism from former insiders even as it argues that its legacy and welfare record still resonate with Dalit voters.
Tamil Nadu byelections in two SC-reserved seats put AIADMK's shrinking Dalit base under scrutiny
R
RDU Global Correspondent
Governance & Policy Desk
Chennai, India 3h ago•7 min read
The AIADMK's decision to field candidates in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly byelections has turned the contests into an early test of whether the party can arrest its steep decline in Scheduled Caste-reserved constituencies. With its tally in SC seats falling from 32 in 2016 to just eight in 2026, the opposition party faces pointed criticism from former insiders even as it argues that its legacy and welfare record still resonate with Dalit voters.
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